Part 8

"Mom! We’re home!" Isabel called from the doorway. The living room was crowded with half-opened cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and styrofoam chips. The couch was slanted diagonally across the room and a bookcase empty of any contents was pushed carelessly against the wall. Isabel heard the sounds of her mother unpacking in the kitchen and she carefully stepped around the stacks of boxes to find Diane Evans putting pans and pots into the bare cupboards. Diane looked up and smiled brightly at Max and Isabel.

"Hi kids, how was school?" she asked.

"School was good. Guess the movers came, huh?" Max asked. They’d arrived with about half of their belongings over a week ago and a mixup at the moving company had delayed the rest of their furniture several weeks.

"It’s so good to finally have everything. Dad’s going to be home in about an hour, we’re going to get pizza for dinner," Diane said, turning back to one of the boxes. Max nodded and quietly left the room, unnoticed by his mother. Isabel reached for a nectarine and bit into it, grimacing at the taste and then opening a nearby cupboard for a bottle of Tabasco sauce. She poured a healthy amount onto the fruit and nodded in satisfaction after taking another bite. Diane spoke as she searched in the box.

"By the way, our old friends, the Parkers, are joining us for dinner. We haven’t seen them since before we left and it’s been ages since we saw their daughter Liz. I remember Nancy mentioning that they adopted a boy too, Michael, about Liz’s age" Diane said thoughtfully. Isabel froze.

"Adopted? Michael is adopted?" Isabel asked, surprised. Diane nodded and looked up, puzzled that Max had left.

"Yes, the Parkers adopted him eight years ago, around the time we left. Where did Max go?" Diane asked. Isabel shrugged.

"He probably went to his room," she responded.

"You kids have met Michael and Liz, haven’t you?" Diane asked. Isabel grinned.

"Yeah, they introduced us to the joys of kareoke a few weeks ago. We have classes with them too," Isabel replied.

"That’s good, so it won’t be a totally boring evening for the four of you. Just let Max know we’re having company, ok?" Diane asked, turning back to her unpacking. Isabel nodded thoughtfully as she left, taking another bite of nectarine. Then a thought occurred to her and she smiled.

"It would be much more entertaining to see Max’s reaction to unexpected guests," Isabel thought as she walked down the hall, her plan set as she passed Max’s room without saying a word.

Two hours later the doorbell rang and Isabel called down the hall to her brother.

"Max! Someone’s at the door, can you get it?" she yelled. Max came out of his room, a question in his eyes. Isabel smiled at him innocently, her head poking out from her room.

"I’m not completely dressed," she said before yanking her head back into her room. Max shrugged and walked towards the door, running a hand through his hair and proceeding to further muss the dark strands. He yawned as he opened the door and that yawn quickly turned into his mouth gaping open from shock and his eyes widening.

On the doorstep stood Liz, Michael and their parents. Liz was smiling at him shyly and Michael studied him curiously. Max was suddenly away of how wrinkled his shirt was and how unkempt he appeared to be. He felt the heat rise in his cheeks and he suddenly wished he were anywhere but where he was.

"I’m going to kill you, Isabel," he muttered under his breath. Somehow he knew that Isabel had purposefully not told him anything about their guests.

"What did you say Max?" Michael asked, slightly amused. Max shook his head and stepped aside to let the Parkers in.

"Um, nothing. Please come in. I’m guessing we’re having company for dinner?" Max asked weakly. Jeff Parker noticed Max’s confused expression and he laughed.

"Communication getting a little jumbled in all the moving madness?" he asked good naturedly. Max nodded, relieved for the easy way Liz’s dad had stepped around his discomfort. And suddenly he realized that he was standing in front of Liz’s parents, dressed like he’d just rolled out of bed and his manners practically non-existent. Liz seemed to sense his embarrassment and she stepped forward, taking Max’s arm and pulling him closer to her parents. Her gentle fingers on his arm sent a shiver down his spine that he tried to contain.

"Mom, Dad, this is Max, he’s the one who helped me with Kyle a few weeks ago. And Max, these are my parents, Jeff and Nancy," Liz introduced. At Liz’s words Jeff’s eyes instantly lit up with gratitude. He shook Max’s hand.

"Wonderful to meet you Max. I can’t thank you enough for taking care of Lizzie," he emphasized. Max shook his head.

"It was nothing, really. I’m just glad I was there. Besides, Michael and Alex were there too," Max replied, wanting to give credit where it was due. Max thought he saw a flash of annoyance in Jeff’s eyes and he knew he wasn’t imagining the sudden stiffening of Michael’s back. Obviously the trouble Michael had gotten into had caused trouble at home. Liz’s mom spoke up, diverting attention.

"Definitely the son of Diane Evans, so polite," Nancy said with a slight smile. Max ducked his head at the compliment and he noticed Liz smiling at him. She seemed pleased that her parents liked him. His thoughts were halted by the sudden shriek of his mother as she came from the kitchen and hugged Liz’s mom. Max watched in amazement and heard Michael’s voice whisper next to him.

"Wow, that’s scary," he observed, watching their mothers. Max looked around and decided to take the opportunity to change into something a little less wrinkled.

"I’ll be right back," he said, stepping away from Liz. Liz nodded and tried not to be disappointed. She watched Max go and she couldn’t help grinning at the sight of his hair, sticking up in all directions and his rumpled appearance. He looked like he’d just gotten out of bed, a thought that she enjoyed.

Max tried not to run down the hall to Isabel’s room and he knocked loudly on the wood panel. After a few seconds Isabel opened the door, her eyes looking at him wide and innocent. He proceeded to glare at her.

"Yes Max?" she said. Max just stared at her until a minute had passed and she dropped the expression, heaving a sigh.

"Oh, come on Max, that was funny! I couldn’t help it, it was too good to resist," Isabel tried to explain. Max merely shook his head and walked away from his sister, not wanting her to see the smile tugging on his lips. He couldn’t stay mad, not when Liz was in his house. He walked into his room and quickly threw open the closet door, groaning at the mess in front of him. He’d barely had a chance to unpack any of his clothes yet. Finally he found a dark maroon colored button down shirt his sister had bought him for his birthday. It was shortsleeved, something he thought he might need with Liz around. Her very appearance kept his temperature skyrocketing. He peeled off his t-shirt, deemed his black jeans acceptable and proceeded to unbutton the shirt to pull it on.

Liz walked quietly down the hall, looking for Max. She’d excused herself easily, saying she was going in search of the bathroom. Isabel had pointed down the hall and told her it was by Max’s bedroom, which was all the incentive Liz needed. She peeked into one of the rooms, found it dark and quickly surmised it was Isabel’s by the soft colors and candles everywhere. She turned around in the hallway and walked towards the door across from Isabel’s, which was slightly ajar. She heard rustling around and knew Max had to be inside. Even though she knew she should have knocked, she didn’t, she just pushed the door open a little and looked inside. And then her heart stopped.

Max stood in front of the closet, fumbling with the buttons on his shirt. Her eyes drank in the sight of his back, his broad shoulders and the gleaming gold of his skin. She remembered what it felt like when he’d run his hands over her shoulders and arms and she shivered, longing to feel what his skin felt like. Max turned slightly and Liz barely managed to keep the involuntary strangled noise she made from erupting from her mouth. She could see the ridged muscles of his chest, the taunt skin and his flat stomach and Liz was pretty sure she was going to pass out. Then the most embarrassing, but most inevitable thing happened. Max turned around and looked up, his eyes meeting hers.

She grinned at the rush of color that covered his face and at the way Max quickly pulled on his shirt, fastening the buttons at lightning speed. Finally, he finished and looked up at Liz. She realized he was uncomfortable and she immediately felt sorry. She hadn’t wanted to embarrass him, despite the fact that he had nothing to be embarrassed about. Liz walked into Max’s room and climbed over a box to step near him.

"I’m sorry, Max, I should have knocked," she said, wondering at her own bold actions. She’d never been this forward with any of the boys she’d liked. But Max was different. He was worthy of the pursuit. Max cleared his throat and finally spoke.

"That’s ok, you just startled me," Max replied. Liz gave him another smile and he felt his insides melt. She was so close, and he felt like the room temperature had spiked ten degrees. And just when he thought he might be able to bear the heat radiating off of Liz, she was unbuttoning his shirt and every thought vanished from his brain.

"You, uh, buttoned these wrong," she whispered next to his ear.

Stupified, he watched her fingers work, moving from the bottom button to the next one up, further and further to the top button. He couldn’t register a thought in his head and reality almost completely vanished when he felt her fingers graze his chest. His eyes closed of their own will and he leaned closer to her, longing to feel her fingers touch every curve of his body.

Liz watched Max, her lips dry. She licked them and swallowed, finding her throat dry. She’d been looking at Max’s shirt and had seen that he’d buttoned it wrong, leaving the top and bottom uneven. Without even thinking she’d reached out to unbutton the shirt and she’d found that the air almost crackled with energy as she moved. By accident or by her won will her fingers grazed against Max’s skin and she gasped softly, reveling in the delicious feeling of warmth and strength. She looked up at Max and was surprised to see his eyes closed as he almost leaned towards her.

Her heartbeat tripled at the sight of him, so close. She could just lean towards him, step up on her tiptoes and easily touch his lips with her own. And she could feel her body naturally doing just that when a sharp knock on the door startled them both.

"Max! Get out here!" Isabel called, not waiting for an answer before she walked back down the hall. Liz breathed a sigh of relief that Isabel didn’t look in the room and she looked back at Max, finding the same relief on his face. Then his eyes met hers and she melted from the intensity. All his attention was on her and she only just registered the feeling of his hands on hers as he buttoned his shirt back up, finishing the job she’d started. But she saw the recognition in his eyes and she knew that he’d felt the same things she had when she’d touched him. And she could tell that he realized there was something more powerful than attraction between them. Taking a reluctant step back, Liz nodded shyly.

"I’ll see you out there in a few minutes?" she said softly. He nodded and she left the room. Max sighed loudly after she left and picked up his comb, noticing how his hand was shaking. He’d almost lost it, with Liz touching him. And, once again, she’d made him forget. He forgot that he could never be a normal teenage boy attracted to a beautiful girl. Setting the comb down, he studied his own reflection and he wondered what it would be like to forget forever.

"And then Maria and Liz threw both their mudpies at Alex and Michael! Oh, Diane, it was priceless!" Nancy exclaimed. Liz traded grimaces with Michael, who was slouching in his chair, as if ducking down might lessen the embarrassment. Max was grinning at Liz from across the dinner table, enjoying her slight discomfort. Their parents had finished with current news and launched into horrid childhood stories about twenty minutes ago, after they’d finished eating.

"I so wish you and Philip had been here all these years. I think our kids would have had a wonderful time growing up together," Nancy said wistfully. Diane looked at her son, watching Liz with intense brown eyes and she smiled knowingly to herself.

"I think they’ll have plenty of time to catch up," she said. Jeff rubbed his hands together.

"The night’s still young, how about we see some of your slides from Aspen, Philip? If you can locate them, that is," Jeff suggested. At the word "slides", both Max and Isabel groaned. Liz immediately perked up, more than happy to divert the attention to her favorite subject: Max.

"Dad! It’s not even Sunday night! Slides are supposed to be a one night a week torture!" Isabel exclaimed. Philip shook his head, laughing at his daughter.

"Iz, we’ll make an exception this week, let’s all head into the family room," he said. Max came around the table and walked with Liz into the room.

"What’s the deal with slides?" Liz asked.

"It’s a part of the Spanish Inquisition that they never tell us about in school. But, lucky for Isabel and me, we get first hand experience every single Sunday night. Dad’s kind of a photographer, and he keeps Kodak in business," Max said. Liz smiled and nodded, joining Isabel, who was still pouting, as Michael and Max moved some furniture, Jeff helped Philip unload slides and Diane and Nancy cleaned up in the kitchen.

After another few minutes of setting up, Isabel and Liz sat on the couch with their mothers and Jeff and Philip took the floor in front of the couch, facing the screen. Max and Michael sat behind the couch, quickly moving out of eye’s view as Michael pulled out a deck of cards. They played cards largely unnoticed until Liz looked over the edge and grinned at Max.

"Max, what are the Sharks?" she asked innocently. Max hung his head and groaned as Liz’s soft laughter continued. Michael looked up from his cards curiously.

"Come on Maxwell, share," he prompted.

"The Sharks were the peewee hockey team I was on for one torturous winter. I was so bad at the game, every time I got on the ice I’d fall over because of all the padding. I could skate fine without it, but I think I spent more time flat on my back than actually skating. And, of course, Dad has a picture of nearly every accident," Max said, risking a peek over the couch. Sure enough, there was a picture of Max, about ten years old, sprawled on the ice.

He and Michael abandoned their game of cards and kneeled behind the couch, Max next to Liz’s head and Michael near his mother. Liz lost all interest in the slides when she felt Max’s breath shifting her hair a little. She tipped her head slightly and nestled her head next to his on the back of the couch. She thought she felt his fingers caress her hair, but she couldn’t be sure.

Liz Parker was going to be the death of him. Max was certain that if she kept tempting him he’d never survive. But he knew he’d enjoy every second of it. When the slides finally ended and the room was pitch black for a few brief seconds all Max heard was the sound of her breathing in his ear. And the sound, so lively, so simple, unnerved him. It reminded him that Liz was real, and that she was right next to him. And it reminded him that his love for her was real, a realization that shocked him because of the truth of it. He was still in a daze as the Parkers got ready to leave. He helped Liz with her coat and his fingers lingered at her collar, fingering the soft strands of her hair. She looked up at him through her lashes and as she left they didn’t say a word. Verbal communication seemed almost a nuisance with them.

And as she left, Max was almost certain her entire being had told him she loved him. He knew himself and he knew Liz, but by sheer amazement he wasn’t quite ready to accept that she could love him, despite the shining of her dark eyes and a soft smile directed only at him. One thing Max did know for certain, the feeling he’d felt the night before meeting Liz had been real. Liz was his fate and his soul had known she was nearby before he’d even seen her. And he was ready to believe that she was the reason he’d been brought to earth.

Laying down on his bed with his hands behind his head, Max smiled to himself. Tomorrow he’d go to the Crashdown to see Liz. He’d been hesitating until now, but he knew tomorrow he’d ask Liz to the Homecoming Dance. Max closed his eyes and dreamed of the next day, September 19, 1999.