posted on 2-Aug-2002 6:23:39 PM by senoritaspoiler
Title: Unpretty
Author: senoritaspoiler w/help from Talena
Disclaimer: I own nothing, am not making any money
Rated: probably pg-13, R
Category: M/L AU CC
Summary: From a challenge by Talena (on fanfiction discussion board)
Basically this fic is sort of based on the song "Unpretty" by TLC and on "She's All That".

1-4-5

**Image by Talena**

Unpretty

T-Boz:
I wish I could tie you up in my shoes
Make you feel unpretty too
I was told I was beautiful
But what does that mean to you
Look into the mirror who's inside there
The one with the long hair
Same old me again today (yeah)

Chilli:
My outsides look cool
My insides are blue
Everytime I think I'm through
It's because of you
I've tried different ways
But it's all the same
At the end of the day
I have myself to blame
I'm just trippin'

Chorus:
T-Boz & Chilli:
You can buy your hair if it won't grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up that Mac can make
But if you can't look inside you
Find out who am I to
Be in the position to make me feel so damn unpretty

T-Boz & Chilli:
Never insecure until I met you
Now I'm in stupid
I used to be so cute to me
Just a little bit skinny
Why do I look to all these things
To keep you happy
Maybe get rid of you
And then I'll get back to me (hey)

Chilli:
My outsides look cool
My insides are blue
Everytime I think I'm through
It's because of you
I've tried different ways
But it's all the same
At the end of the day
I have myself to blame
I can't believe I'm trippin'

Chorus

Chorus

T-Boz & Chilli:
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (oh)
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (oh)

Chorus

Prologue

The sun glared through the blinds evilly and the alarm clock beeped incessantly at god damn 6 AM, the butt crack of dawn. This must be some form of cruel and unusual punishment Liz thought as she groaned loudly. She smacked the alarm clock haphazardly and it clanged with a thud to the floor. Satisfied, Liz pulled her Little Mermaid Pillow over her head in hopes of getting a few more minutes of blissful sleep. But her hopes were in vain.

"Lizzzzzzzzieeeeeee! Lizzie wake up! Aren't you excited, today's the first day of school!" screamed Mrs. Parker up the stairs.

"Oh, I am ecstatic alright" mumbled Liz under her breath before rolling over and readjusting the pillow over her head.

"Elizabeth Parker you get up right this minute or you will be late for the first day of your senior year. If you're not awake by the time I get up there I'm calling your father," a distinctive tone change.

Shit, shit, shit. Not the father route. Liz's parents, Jeff and Nancy Parker, had gotten divorced when Liz was just three years old due to 'irreconcilable differences'.

Every year she spent the summer with her father and his new stepwife Barbi and their three triplet sons. Every year as June rolled around Liz pleaded with her mother to let her spend the summer in Roswell, lest she be subjected to a summer talking "girl stuff" and getting berated about her looks and clothes by Miss. Barbie doll. If Liz thought her mother was bad about that kind of thing, she was nothing in comparison to her stepmom. Whenever Liz was difficult her mother instead of dealing threatened to call Jeff and ship Liz off to live with him. She had actually followed through once, which scared Liz more.

In high school Liz's mother had been a beauty queen and social butterfly. She expected Liz to be the same, although Liz had shown her time and time again she wanted no part of it. Liz never went on dates, never went out with friends, except her close knit group of best friends she'd had since second grade: Isabel Michaels, Tess Harding, and Maria DeLuca, but more on them later. One time, Liz actually got asked to the homecoming dance by a really nerdy, overweight boy in her biology class named Kevin. He was really nice, and Liz liked him a lot, just she wasn't into the dating thing. She had politely told him she wasn't interested, and put it behind her. Liz Parker just didn't concern herself with those things; she wasn't a pretty girl, that wasn't her thing. Liz Parker was good at school, a teacher's favorite, a best friend, a volunteer at the Children's Museum.

When Liz's mom got wind that Liz had been asked to the Homecoming Dance and rejected it she had a caniption.

{Flash}

"Elizabeth Parker, what were you thinking? You got asked on your first ever date, with a nice seeming boy none the less, and you had the gall to say no? Who do you think you are? You're not pretty; you have no right to be choosy. You should be thankful this boy is deep enough to actually want to take you to this dance. I just have no idea what to do with you….Maybe you should just go back with your father and Barbi, maybe he can figure out how to deal with you better than I can, because frankly, I'm at a loss here dear."

After that Liz had stayed in her room for a week. She knew she wasn't pretty or popular, and she never would be.

But to hear her mom say that to her stung, hard.

And to make matters worse, her mom actually did send her to her dad's house, for a month. She didn't care that Liz had her biology midterms in three weeks, or that she was missing the biggest Science Olympiad competition all year, and that she had been working on her project for months.

Whatever, Liz didn't need anyone's approval, she didn't need anyone.

{End Flash}

That comment got Liz up with a start. She wrenched the blankets from her bed, but as she tossed them to the floor her foot got caught in the sheets. Liz fell headfirst onto the floor, leaving a hefty mark on the back of her skull.

"Wow, I think this is an omen," she whimpered as she rubbed the back of her head and made her way into the bathroom. As she started the shower as usual and took off her pajamas she performed her ritual of looking into the mirror.

She stared first at her plain, smooth, round face. Liz had terrible eyesight, and wore thick prescription glasses with thin wire rims. There were dark, puffy bags below her eyes from lack of sleep working on her summer homework. Her teeth were the color of dirty snow, but hey at least they were straight she liked to joke. That usually happens though when you have braces for three years. Her hair was thick and wild. It was like a diamond in the rough, raw and coarse, but exquisite when polished. One time Liz had had her hair styled at the salon, and it had been gorgeous. But that required too much effort, and no one was looking at dowdy Liz Parker anyways, so she just washed, brushed sometimes, and slicked her mousy brown hair into a haphazard ponytail.

Her body was pretty much the same as her face Liz thought, plain. She was about 5'5", average height, with long, lean legs and a skinny torso. She had been totally flat-chested until about a year ago, she was what people call a late bloomer. Still, she was incredibly self-concious about her awkward body.

Liz felt the steam press against her back and knew it was time to get in the shower before the water went cold.

After a long, hot shower, Liz proceeded to get dressed. She didn't care what she wore, because, once again, nobody would be looking. Her mother had tried to take her shopping on more than one occasion, but what was the point, her mother just told her she looked silly in fashionable clothes anyways because they didn't go with her decidedly 'unfashionable' face. She had given up. So she threw on her standard fare of a worn out Camp Good Days orange tee-shirt under a pair of faded overalls, along with her trusty scuffed Birkenstocks. She polished her glasses, zipped up her back pack, and bounded down the stairs for what would be at least for Liz the beginning of the end; the first day of her last year of high school.



[ edited 18time(s), last at 11-Jan-2003 12:11:07 AM ]
posted on 2-Aug-2002 9:48:16 PM by senoritaspoiler
Part 1

Max's alarm clock blared at 5:30 AM. It was a beautiful day outside and Max Evans was ready to face the world…Or was he?

He was the captain of so many teams and president of so many clubs that he took up an entire page of the West Roswell High yearbook, the cocky half grin and perfect icy white teeth that sent chills down so many Roswellian girls' spines and captured their hearts radiated from a full glossy half page in the commemorative leather bound book. Max was a Roswell High legend, and he planned to go out with a bang for his final year, he was the big man on campus, so why not?

He sat up and stretched before throwing on some mesh shorts and a Stanford basketball sweatshirt before heading out for a run like usual to clear his head and start the day right.

As Max ran he thought about what it meant to finally be a senior, and about college.

He had applied to Dartmouth, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, the obligatory Harvard, William and Mary, Rutgers, Brown, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northwestern, U Penn, Cornell, U Mich Ann Arbor, and U of New Mexico Las Cruces as a safety school. He had only wanted to apply to Johns Hopkins and Stanford, because those were the only two schools with great in depth biomedical, pre med, and scientific research opportunities. But Max's dad, a wealthy Roswellian lawyer, had his alma mater at Princeton and insisted Max attend school there. His mom had also prodded him into applying to Stanford and Harvard, as much for bragging rights to awe her socialite friends as for Max's educational aspirations.

But that's alright, he would figure it out, he was a big boy He wished he had it easy, a future mapped out for him straight through retirement that he loved and would make him rich, and happy, picking up a stunning trophy wife and curly-haired, bright-eyed little girl along the way. Why did the future he wanted and the future his father was intent on having his son follow have to clash so brazenly…and publicly?

Philip Evans made sure that everyone in Roswell knew that his son, upstanding student, was going to attend Philip's alma mater at Princeton and then take over the family law firm. Diane reiterated the message often with her high-class gossip craved friends.

But Max cared nothing about Princeton or taking over the family law firm. His only love was science, and sports, and debate, but you get the point. Max had consistently performed the worst in the humanities, constantly winning awards and excelling in science, why was his father so blinded by his own need to live vicariously through Max.

Oh, but most others would say, boo hoo. Poor Max. The smart, rich, Adonis-like, popular, athletic wonder boy of all Roswell, what a hard life he has.

Max knew this. He had always been popular-on-top-of-the-world every guy wanted to be and every girl wanted to date no matter how cliché this was, Max's life was a living cliché. Long ago he had learned he would have to face a future road blocked by his parents' expectations.

So he had put up an arrogant and obnoxious front that soon pretty much took over his identity. Max hung out in a clique with the most popular guys in school: Alex Whitman, Michael Guerin, Kyle Valenti, and from time to time, Sean DeLuca, but more about them later. He and his buddies ran the schools, dominating the sports fields, the girls, the beers, and the parties. You knew you were in if you got invited to one of these guys parties, and you knew you were hot if you found yourself of one of these guys arms.

More than that they had made it their mission since junior high to mock the most notorious girls at West Roswell High: The Horrorsome Foursome as they were known. No matter how hard those four girls tried to blend in and act invisible, their dress and blatant nerdiness and quirkiness (understatement alert) always had them the center of Max and friends attention. They were just easy, vulnerable prey, like no matter how much they tried to hide they lay naked and exposed to the school population, asking to be made fun of.

Liz Parker was the geeky, textbook nerd, skinny as a board with thick glasses. Isabel Michaels was the tomboy, who many called a "dyke" with short, greasy, choppy dirty blond hair, a tall, thick body, and arm muscles that rivaled Max's own. Maria DeLuca (unrelated to Sean DeLuca) was the clutz, with metal braces, headgear, and retainers that were always falling out, Maria had long, stringy blond hair and was short and built similarly to Liz. Maria was always tripping, running into things, or otherwise making a fool of herself. Then there was the typical fat one, Tess Harding. Tess had cherubic blond curls, pink cheeks, and a plump body stuffed into outdated Christmas sweaters and 80's style leggings. Those were the Horrorsome Foursome: nerdy, outcasted, and unpretty. But they were oh so fun to make fun of…


Max was panting and sweat trickled down his forehead in thick rivulets as he careened his way on the home stretch down his block, slowing down as he zoomed onto his driveway. He slid in the front door, throwing a towel over his neck as he filled a glass of water in the kitchen sink.

"Morning Maxwell," said Philip, sitting casually at the kitchen table, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand, peering over the Wall Street Journal.

Undaunted, Max greeted his father with a curt, "Morning, father," as he guzzled the remaining water and placed the glass in the sink.

Without another breath Max was up the stairs and had the shower running for his morning shower. Clean and with just a touch of shampoo in his ear, Max dried himself off, making sure to put on his lucky boxers along with his school 'uniform' of a black tee shirt, jeans, and his Varsity letter jacket. He picked his back pack off the floor, grabbed the keys to the little green four-wheeler he'd gotten for his eighteenth birthday, and headed downstairs for goodbyes before heading off to assert his reign as the big man on campus in his final year at West Roswell High.

----------------------------------------------------
Thank you all so much for the feedback, and a special thanks to my beta Talena! More feedback please!
posted on 3-Aug-2002 1:15:13 AM by senoritaspoiler
Part 2

(Raw and uncut)

Liz headed out the door on her three block trek to West Roswell High School. It wasn't a very big town. She was walking quietly down the dusty sidewalk, watching as a few scarce cars passed her by kicking up sand which proceeded to swirl around her coating her clothes and hair. She readjusted her heavy backpack every few minutes, as the weight of her books was beginning to weigh heavily on her small frame.

She was just standing at the last stop light, waiting to cross the street when Liz saw Max's jeep, teeming with Max and his comrades approaching down the road. Adrenaline coursed through her veins at an unparalleled pace. The day hadn't even started…she wasn't ready for a choice encounter just yet. Hoping to remain unscathed Liz tried to mold herself behind the traffic light pole, a futile attempt.

Max's jeep whipped by, and just as the hoots and hollers of Liz's testosterone infused arch enemies were in the distance and the noise stopped, Liz came out from behind the pole and crossed the street. All of a sudden Max's jeep went in reverse and flew backwards right to the spot where Liz was innocently standing.


"Well well, what do we have here?" asked Kyle menacingly.

"I don't know, but it looks like our favorite nerd of the Horrorsome Foursome, doesn't it to you Max my friend?" continued Sean.

"Yah it does. Hi there Lizzie, how are you today? Excited for your first day of school? Gonna be a senior, Lizzie's a big girl now, huh?"

"Well not big, if you know what I mean," sneered Michael, grabbing his pecs and squeezing them.
"Well actually, I know something that is big…" said Kyle.

"Those glasses, Ugly Girl!" yelled Michael.

The boys erupted in a fit of cackles, as Kyle and Michael gave each other appreciative high fives.

"Well Lizzie, we'd love to stay and chat for a while, but we've got to be making our appearance at school. Try not to miss us too too much," winked Alex.

"Bye Lizzie" the boys shouted simultaneously.

And just as quickly as they'd come Max gunned the engine and the jeep was off, leaving another layer of dust on Liz's ruddy overalls, and creating another defensive wall on Liz's already fragile heart.

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Liz was actually happy by the time she had trudged the last block and made her way to school. She took up residence in a small shady spot in the quad, way in the back where the other kids called "the bowels of the earth." But Liz and her friends liked it; it was quiet, and secluded, and there was never anyone there to tease them.

It was only about five minutes before Maria showed up, and Liz couldn't have been happier.

"Maria!" cried Liz, as she saw her best friend making her way over to her. She jumped off the grass and ran to meet her. Just as Liz was almost to Maria, Maria tripped over a root in the ground and fell flat on her face.

"Oh god Maria, what have you done now?" laughed Liz, pushing up her glasses and trying to turn Maria over.

"Ow Lizzie, don't pull. My headgear is caught on the root."

Liz tried to pull Maria's headgear from the grass but the root was wedged through the headgear.

"Hey Maria, it won't budge, do you by any chance have a nail file or something to pry it out with or try and cut it or something?"

"A nail file? Liz who do you think you're talking to. I don't care about my nails. I don't think I even own one, let alone bring it to school!"

Liz sighed in resignation. But, with one last tug, the root finally came free. Maria turned her head around and gave Liz a brilliant silver grin.

"Thanks hun."

"Yah, you'll thank me when I wipe that dirt off your face and get that grass out of your braces," laughed Liz using the sleeve of her tee shirt to wipe off Maria's face and sliding the grass out of her braces.

Once the last piece of grass was out Maria burst out laughing.

"Sorry I'm so klutzy, I just can't seem to help it. No matter what I do I fall or hurt myself or someone else. I hope this is just a phase."

"Well if it’s a phase you've been in it since 2nd grade. I'd say it's more of a funk if you ask me."

"Is not!" cried Maria, playfully swatting Liz on the shoulder.

"Alright, what did Maria do this time?" asked Isabel, sporting an ominous looking flannel shirt, jeans, and Timberland hiking boots.

"I just tripped over a big root, and then got my headgear stuck. But no worries, it's all good now, Liz is my hero!"

"Yah, well just be thankful you didn't break any bones this time, and that a mangled piece of metal is all you got," said Isabel grudgingly smiling, pulling a blade of grass from Maria's blond locks.

"So we're almost all here," said Liz happily, "but where's Tess? It's not like her to be the last one here, she likes school the most of any of us, well at least some aspects of this school *cough* *cough* Mr. I'm-Too-Cool-For-School *cough* *cough* Max Evans *cough* *cough*.

The girls all giggled at that remark. They knew that Tess had an unrequited love for Max Evans, like almost every other girl in their school. But thing was, Max Evans didn't constantly make fun of most of the other girls in school. If Max ever knew that one of the Horrorsome Foursome had the hots for him he'd probably puke on himself, that or have himself a back breaking good laugh.

"What are you guys all laughing about?" asked Tess innocently, joining their group at just the wrong moment per usual. And with Tess's oh so innocent remark, and the sweet look on her baby faced cheeks, the girls burst out laughing once again.

But then, like usual, Tess turned from a baby faced cherub to a walking breathing she devil.
Her nose scrunched up, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes darkened. Even her curls seemed to tighten.

"Secrets don't make friends, and you girls will tell me right now what you were talking about or I'll…I'll…I'lll…well…I'll something, and it'll be really bad, I swear. Like put a gerbil in your bed Isabel, or pickle juice on your retainer Maria, or…or I'll stomp on your glasses Lizzie!"

Liz bit her lip but she couldn't contain the giggles. Tess was just too funny when she was all angry and scrunched up. And all her empty threats, you couldn't take them seriously. No matter how much trash Tess liked to talk, she was a sweetheart at heart, and she loved Liz, Isabel and Maria like sisters. They meant too much to her, she would never ever hurt them. But it was so much fun to watch her ramble off 'scary' threats.

Tess let out a defeated whimper and then plopped down in the grass with a smile on her face.

"Fine, you don't have to tell me, but just remember, I'll remember."

"Oooooook Tess, will do," giggled Maria.

The shrill screech of the ten minute warning bell interrupted the girls light hearted morning banter, and with heavy hearts they made their way towards the main quad before classes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Max, Kyle, Sean, Alex and Michael were all laughing and joking, reenacting their morning encounter with Liz Parker. Just as Michael began to whistle and squeeze his pecs, the West Roswell High cheerleaders, Pam Troy at the helm, sidled their way over to Max and buddies.

Pam was Max's girlfriend, ex-girlfriend to be exact. They had dated on and off again all of freshman year, and finally called it quits. Since then they'd both dated other people, Pam had even been around the entire football team, but it was no big secret that she still wanted Max. Unfortunately for her it was also no big secret that Max thought of her as nothing, a brief fling from his highly decorated past.

"Hey Max," purred Pam seductively, licking her lips as she finished saying his name, a name she drew out a little too long for Max's comfort.

"Hi Pam," Max responded, giving her a polite nod.

"Hey Pam, you're looking pretty good this year hot thing," growled Sean, blatantly undressing her with his eyes. Not that it took much effort, she was already wearing a mid-thigh body molding hot pink spandex shirt, and a see through black lace top with only a very lacy, and very small black bra on underneath. The clothes perfectly complemented the bleach blonde hair with inch long dark roots, and the pretty, if not pretty average (but highly made-up) face. She looked like your typical high school slut. But although Pam was a slut, she was a popular slut. And she had most boys hooked.

Standing with Pam were two other popular cheerleaders, Jodie Lynn and Tamara. But behind them were also a whole gaggle of popular girls. Jodie was gorgeous with huge green eyes, and Tamara was also gorgeous, a mix of Hispanic and Indian, she also had huge eyes and even bigger lips. But they were also two of the most notorious bitches at Roswell High. They looked good, they knew it, and they used it to their utmost advantage. Along with Pam they formed a force not many girls would dare reckon with. When they wanted something, they almost always got it. And it irked Pam to no end that Max was looking but not taking.

"Well aren't we chipper today Maxie," cooed Pam, only slightly put off by his obvious lack of affection.

"No, I'm happy, everything's just..."

"All females, ages 16-18 please report immediately to the front steps of West Roswell High."

"Repeat, all females ages 16-18 please report immediately to the front steps of West Roswell High," blared the outside overhead speakers.

Pam turned to Jodie Lynn and Tamara in shock. Something was happening at their school and they didn't know about it? What was going on? They owned the school and they were out of the loop on a major announcement regarding the girls of Roswell High on the first day of school. Seriously miffed, Pam grabbed Jodie Lynn and Tamara and stalked (as well as she could in 4 inch stilettos) towards the front steps.
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"All females, ages 16-18 please report immediately to the front steps of West Roswell High."

"Repeat, all females ages 16-18 please report immediately to the front steps of West Roswell High," blared the outside overhead speakers.
"Do you guys have any idea what's going on?" asked Tess as they hastened their way towards the steps.

"No idea," said Liz, seriously confused.

As they approached the steps they saw most of the other sophomore, junior, and senior girls already huddled around the steps. Liz, Maria, Tess, And Isabel made their way to the very back, hoping not to be noticed.

At the top of the steps stood the school assistant principal, Mrs. Ingalls holding a megaphone and shouting for everyone to quiet down. After a few minutes the tiny lady got so flustered she reached down into her suit jacket and pulled out a whistle.

As the whistle reverberated through the crowd of nervous teenage girls, an air of silence descended.

"I called you all here today," began Mrs. Ingalls, her high voice eerily distorted by the megaphone, "to announce to you all an enormous new community wide fundraiser and project our community has embarked upon, and out great pride in asking all of you to help us make our endeavor amazing. This year, in April right after Spring Break, West Roswell High will be holding the first ever Roswell Females For a Fantastic Future pageant."

Loud cheers chorused through the masses. Liz and Isabel exchanged disgusted looks.

"It is in hopes that all eligible females will develop and propose an in depth community service activity proposal, perform a certain number of community service hours, and/or write an essay on the importance of community service to you and to the community. The hundred girls with the best projects will be then asked to write an essay on why they should be elected Miss Fantastic Future."

Boos replaced the cheers at the mention of additional work. Tess and Tamara exchanged worried looks, they could win a beauty pageant, but not an essay pageant. What kind of pageant was this anyways?"

"The top twenty-five girls will then be asked to compete in April's beauty….well not beauty…womanly attributes….no…that sounds worse…" Mrs. Ingalls cheeks began to turn a fiery shade of auburn and her hands began to shake. Finally regaining her composure she continued, "The top twenty-five girls will compete in a competition based on their personality, and well I guess looks, and be judged by their peers. The winner will receive a myriad of prizes from local and national business and corporations, and community wide recognition. Their only obligation, besides being Miss Fantastic Future will be to implement the best designed community service project, one that will also be chosen by the judges."

"We at West Roswell High hope that all you ladies will do the community proud and take a sincere interest in bettering our community, and hopefully the best young lady will be chosen to represent Roswell and our hopes for a fantastic future!" Mrs. Ingalls finished triumphantly, pumping her fist into the air and grinning broadly over the microphone. A smattering of girls cheered wildly, but most girls clapped boredly. A beauty pageant was cool, but not a Miss Fantastic Future pageant.
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"Well that was ummm…"

"…interesting," finished Tess for a stumbling Maria. She was rewarded with a reflective grin.

"Yah, interesting to say the least."

The girls didn't take it seriously, saying their goodbyes until lunch as they headed in their separate ways to class.
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While the announcement for the first annual Roswell Females For a Fantastic Future pageant was being announced, Max, Sean, Alex, Kyle and Michael had huddled in the bushes to watch and make mischief if necessary. When the pageant was announced, Sean got a gleam in his eye and looked wickedly towards Pam's spandex clad ass.

"This should be interesting," he said grinning wildly.

"Yah man definitely, a bunch of hot "goody two-shoe" chicks in their bikinis up on the auditorium stage, what could be better," added Michael.

"I know," said Sean, "how about we add a little sweetener to the deal…what if we make a little bet?"

"What kind of bet do you mean, man?" asked Alex.

"You know…I have an idea. How about all-star pussy boy Maxwell here has to turn one of the ugliest girls at WRH into a beauty pageant winner? He's got that little boy charm, he can put on a little elbow grease into it, make the girl popular, and maybe with his rep the kids will vote her in. But, then again, maybe not. Pam could take it like all the other titles. It'll be a hard one, and to spice it up we'll need a real piece of work, what do you say Maxwell, too much of a pussy for this one. I'll put in two hundred, because Pam has such a tight ass."

"I'm in, two hundred, Pam is hot," said Kyle.

"Yah me too, I respect you Maxwell, but I just don't think you have it in you," said Michael.

"Don't have it in me? Who are you kidding? I could take the ugliest girl in this school, put a mini skirt and some make up on her, put her on my arm, and get her a vote from every member of the WRH student body population, heck, even some of the teachers. I'm in."

"Well then, I guess I am, too," said Alex.

"Well then it's settled," cawed Sean, "now who's the lucky girl?"

"Horrorsome Foursome!" said Sean, Alex, Kyle, and Michael at the same time. They exchanged mischevious looks.

"So which one do you want Maxwell, you can take your pick from any of WRH's fine ladies of the Horrorsome Foursome. Will it be the fat one, or is that too much work? The klutz? The nerd? The dyke? Grab it while its hot my boy."

"Well, the dyke is scary, the fat ones fat, and there is so much metal protruding from the klutz I'd be afraid to attract like a freak bolt of lightning. So I guess I chose the nerd. What's her name again?"

"Liz Parker," helped Alex.

"Yah, Liz Parker," said Max nodding his head. *I can do this, no problem, turn a Horrorsome Foursome into Miss Roswell, no sweat."

The bell rang, and the boys parted.

As Max was walking, away Sean called out to Max. He turned around and looked at Sean.

"Oh by the way Maxwell, good luck…you'll need it," said Sean, laughing as he pulled up his backpack and ran off towards homeroom.
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Hey, sorry I just had to get this out. I haven't had time to edit this part or part 1 but I promise to get around to it within the next few days. Thank you all for your awesome feedback, it means a lot to me.
And once again thanks to Talena for the challenge and for being an awesome beta!

So keep up the feedback guys, and keep me writing!!!

<3 Senorita

posted on 6-Aug-2002 2:52:30 AM by senoritaspoiler
Part 3

*Running Away From A Bad Start*

Max waltzed into his Ap bio class five minutes late, flashing Mr. Seligman the professor his yearbook- style half smile. But, Mr. Seligman, to Max's chagrin, and unlike the female population of Roswell high, did not hyperventilate at the sight of Max's cocky smile.

"So nice of you to join us, what a great way to make an impression on the first day of class of your senior year. It's lucky you've already been accepted to college. I can see we're going to have an interesting year."

Max gave his best 'I'm sorry' look and scanned the room to try and find an empty seat. Just to his luck in the very back was a lone empty seat. And it just happened to be next to his Girl Friday, Elizabeth Parker.
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As Max sat down Liz tried to sneak a furtive glance at him. This was just great. She had made it her entire high school career without having to share a class with the dumb jocks that ruled Roswell High. Just her luck to get stuck sitting next to the leader of the bunch during her first period of the day her senior year.

In the morning there's nothing like Folger's in your cup, or Max Evans hands in your pig viscera. Ok bad analogy, but you know what I mean.

As Liz sneaked a glance over at Max she saw that he was looking at her. There eyes met for a brief second before Liz quickly averted her eyes and flitted her head so that she was looking immersed in her AP biology book.

But she could feel Max's soulful honey colored eyes boring into her sides, and for some reason it unnerved her. She could feel the heat radiating off his sexy grin, and the blinding shine from his teeth penetrating her protective layers of clothing.

All of a sudden she jumped half way out of her seat when she felt someone or something tapping on her shoulder. She looked around in shock, and when she finally looked at the culprit's hands she was confused to see Max staring at her with a dopey grin.

"Liz Parker, anyone know where Liz Parker is?" Mr. Seligman was saying.

"Here!!!!" shouted Liz. Twenty pairs of eyes turned to look at her, including one very pissed off professor.

"Well, so nice of you to join us Ms. Parker, I only had to read off your name about ten times. I hope my class is not interrupting some of your good sleep there, is it Ms. Parker?"

"No, no of course not Mr. Seligman. I'm very sorry, it won't happen again."

"That's right, it won't, or you'll be on the next bus out of here. You know all of you seniors thinking of taking it easy this year; your college plans aren't set in stone. I could write one letter to the college of your choice detailing your academic disinterest and decline and have you removed from the roster so fast you couldn't keep your pants on. But, enough of that. I run a tight ship, I will not tolerate slacking. You come to class on time, (glare at Max), you pay attention (glare at Liz), you do your homework, and you participate in class. It's simple. You respect me, I respect you. And I expect you to understand it, as I will never say repeat this. You're bright kids ready to embark on the next step in your life journey. But one step out of line, and you're out of her. Now let's begin."

As soon as Mr. Seligman finished extolling his personal monologue and turned to the blackboard Liz tore her eyes from the front of the room and turned to Max Evans. She waited patiently until he turned to look at her, then fixed him with her most evil death glare. It probably looked more like a scared kitten by the way Max was biting his bottom lip looking about to burst out laughing, but it was Liz's "Mad Liz" face, and it was definitely deserved.

Max was already soiling Liz Parker's impeccable academic record and they hadn't even spoken yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max answered his name when role call was called, and stared at the ceiling as Mr. Seligman ran through the other names.

When the teacher got to Elizabeth Parker he heard him call out the name a few times. Max turned to Liz and saw her staring, engrossed, down at her biology book. Mr. Seligman was beginning to get annoyed, asking if anyone knew where Liz was. So, Max did the most gentlemanly thing he could. He tapped Liz on the shoulder in an attempt to get her attention.

As Max's fingers slid away from the fabric of Liz's overalls he saw her jump almost a foot out of her desk. She looked wildly around until her eyes locked on him. She finally heard her name called and jumped up again to scream here.

Max was near bursting with laughter. Liz had just made a huge scene, and now Mr. Seligman was going off on a huge tirade. Max actually felt bad for the girl, she looked like she would erupt in tears any minute.

After the tirade when Mr. Seligman was talking Max went to steal a look at Liz. He found her staring at him, a look of pure hatred etched on her face. Although on Liz, with her huge glasses magnifying her already big eyes to the size of silver dollars she just looked so silly. Max dug his front teeth into his lower lip to keep from laughing and creating his second scene of the day, before 8 AM.

Max sat throughout an excruciating long AP bio class stealing furtive glances at Liz. He studied her face and her clothes assessing the damage control needed to be done.

He would need to definitely first and foremost get her some contact lenses. The huge Urkel glasses just didn't do it for her. They hid her face and stereotyped her for the 'nerd' look. Her face wasn't bad, and would probably look good with a little bit of makeup, some plucking, and a tan. A salon could work wonders on her hair, because that was something he wouldn't even have his sister try and deal with. He couldn't tell much about her body since she always wore those damn dowdy overalls. She seemed pretty skinny and flat-chested, but he couldn't be sure. Oh well, at least he probably wouldn't need to hire a personal trainer. Maybe he could just buy her a padded bra and get her to go running with him. Hey, it could happen. His overall assessment was that although dowdy and nerdy, she had definite potential. Yes, Liz Parker was a definite fixer upper.

But first he needed to talk with her and gain her trust so that she would allow him to make her over. Hopefully it wouldn't be too hard. What girl would pass out a chance to hang out with Max Evans? No girl Max knew would.

Max looked at the clock. The period was moving unmercifully slow. There were still fifteen minutes, with no relief insight to Mr. Seligman's insipid droning.

Max carefully tore a piece of paper from his shiny, new Five Star notebook and tapped his pen against his desk. How to begin a letter to Liz?

Finally he decided it would be easier to talk in person, to use his lady killer charms. Maybe one look at him and she wouldn't remember the years of teasing he had put her through. As the seconds ticked by tediously, Max scribbled out a letter to Liz.

Hey Liz,
It's me, Max, your new bio buddy. I want to talk to you, about bio and stuff. Meet me outside the eraser room during lunch. (I swear this isn't a joke ļ )
~Max
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liz was sitting, minding her own business, when all of a sudden she felt a piece of paper being pushed into her hand. She turned around quickly to try and make eye contact with Max, but by then he'd already turned around and was pretending to pay rapt attention to Mr. Seligman's lecture, with a slight smirk on his face.

Liz opened up the crumpled piece of paper and smoothed it against her book. Looking around to make sure no one was watching she read the letter. And reread it. And reread it. Oh, and then she read it again.

Was he serious? After ruining her day and her standing with Mr. Seligman Max had the gall to try and insult her again. What trick would it be this time? Stealing her glasses and making her late for gym? And she thought he was at least making an attempt at peace, since they had to spend the year sitting next to each other. Oh well, she just wouldn't go, no big deal. He could be an ass all he wanted and she'd take it, but she wasn't going to willingly subject herself to it, she owed herself at least that much. She might be ugly, but no matter what her mother told her time and time again she knew she didn't have to subject herself to Max's taunts. She would take them, but not volunteer for them.

Liz's fists shook with anger as she crumpled up the note and shoved it into the recesses of her backpack. She looked at the clock in longing, only three more minutes until she could rid herself of the Max Evans germs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally the bell rang and Max Evans was released from the hell that was AP bio. He grabbed his books and elbowed through his unsuspecting peers until he made it into the hall, and freedom. He sauntered his way to his locker where his posse was already awaiting the arrival of their king.

"Maxwell how's the first day?" asked Michael, leaning against Max's locker with his arm around a tiny buxom blond, her face plastered with a smile so big it could have fit an orange. Max recognized her as Courtney Paris, one of Pam's younger lackeys who had just become popular this year. Good for her he thought.

Max waved Courtney thumbs up, and received an even bigger smile, if humanly possible, in return. Michael tightened his grip on her possessively. Courtney was his toy for now; Max could have her after, - or get his own.

"Gruesome, and yours Mikey G?" asked Max, using Michael's childhood nickname.

"You know same old."

"I see you already got yourself a girl. Boy you move fast these days, Mike, and cradle robbing, too. At least you got yourself one with half a brain this time," replied Maxwell, receiving a sour look from Michael.

"Yah man, you're just jealous," said Kyle, coming up behind Max with his eyes popping out of his head ogling Courtney.

"Ok, whatever Man, let's just calm down" said Max, restoring the civility. "So what about that first day of the year party tonight at my house? You guys all in? I got my cousin from Las Crusces bringing the kegs?"

"Yah def man, of course I'll be there," said Sean.

"Me too Maxwell, you know I wouldn't miss it" said Michael.

"Hey Michael, am I invited?" asked Courtney, looking up with big eyes at Michael, pouting her ample lower lip.

"Of course babe, I'll pick you up at eight, wear something tight," replied Michael gruffly, resting his hand on Courtney's ass and receiving a contented smile.

Kyle flashed Michael a jealous look before answering Max in the affirmative. Alex was also in, along with Tamara and Jodie Lynn.

"Well I for one will not be joining you boys' juvenile festivities tonight. Not that it's any of your business, but I'm attending an elusive frat party up at U of N Albuquerque. Arson, this twenty-one year old I met while vacationing in Santa Fe goes to school up there and told me I was hotter than any sorority girl he'd ever seen and that I just had to come so he could show me off to his frat brothers!" squealed Pam walking up perilously close to Max and staring him down as she recounted her story. Tamara, Jodie Lynn and Courtney looked on enviously during Pam's entire monologue.

"Oh My God! Pamela you are the luckiest girl ever! Why are you soo pretty? I'm so jealous, girl!" exclaimed Tamara.

"Oh My God!" cried Jodie.

"Wow, you're really lucky," said Courtney shyly, avoiding making eye contact with Pam, but staring at her almost reverently.

"Whatever," said Kyle, "you're hot Pam, but damn¡Kcollege chicks¡Knah you don't compare."

Kyle hit the wrong button, because at that moment Pam whipped around and fixed Kyle with a death glare. She put her hands on her hips and stormed off as the warning bell rung out, Jodie and Tamara in tow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As soon as the bell rang signaling the start of the lunch period Max made his way through the crowds and tried to make it to his locker in hopes of catching Liz before she left for lunch. He made it to his locker and swung in the combo, throwing his books and backpack inside. He grabbed his wallet, and slammed the locker closed.

Ten minutes passed, and Max was still leaning on his locker. He lifted up his wrist and checked his watch for the zillionth time. He was positive this was when he told her to meet him. Oh well, he'd give her five more minutes then go get lunch because his stomach was making obscene noises.

Ten minutes later Max made his way to the commons. He was in a foul mood because he, Max Evans, had never been stood up before.

Max stormed through the commons, shrugging off Kyle and Sean as they came up to him. Max marched straight across the quad, past the tables of all the popular and average kids until he made his way to the grass. Here the druggies, Goths, nerds and otherwise unpopular kids ate their lunches and inhabited the grounds.

Max spotted the Horrorsome Foursome sitting under a tree about a hundred yards away. Liz was sitting on her binder with a half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in her hand, laughing about some dorky thing or another.

Max collected himself, but the anger seeped through his veins. He marched with a purpose towards Liz and the Horrorsome Foursome. He was almost there when Isabel saw him. She made eye contact with Max and nervously signaled to the other girls his impeding approach. Liz's eyes met Max's and the two dueled. Liz's eyes lit with fiery anger, how dare he bring his misogynist crap out to Liz's only haven with her friends.

Max's anger that someone so insignificant and unpretty would ruin his first day of lunch fueled the fire in his eyes. The flames in both eyes flickered against each other, neither one relenting.

Max finally reached the girls, never breaking eye contact with Liz.

He began calmly.

"Liz, where were you. I asked you to meet me, this lunch hour, at my locker. I waited for twenty minutes and you didn't show, what gives?"

When Liz didn't respond it only further fueled Max's anger.

"I asked you Liz what is your problem. I, Max Evans, one of the most popular guys in school asked you for a simple meeting. You couldn't even grant me that. What else do you have to do? Huh? Hang out with your dorky, ugly friends? Oh what a surprise, you're just like them. You're nothing more than an unpretty, unliked loser. And you could never be more. I try to extend my hand to help you, you know maybe get to know you, become friends, maybe even take you under my wing. But you couldn't even grant me that¡K"

Tears welled up in Liz's eyes, magnified by the enormous glasses. She bit her lip in an attempt to be strong, there was no chance in hell she was going to cry in front of Max Evans.
"Whatever Liz you deserve what you get," said Max running out of steam. "I'll talk to you later, maybe," and with that he turned around and left.

The fire in Liz's eyes had been doused. Hot tears threatened at the corner of her eyes. She felt Isabel, Tess, and Maria's looks of both anger and sympathy upon her, and she couldn't hold it in any longer. Liz got up and began to run. She had no idea where she was going, but she was going to get as far away from Max Evans, her mother, her school, as far away as possible.

Somewhere where there were no value judgments based on beauty. Somewhere wehre she didn't feel like nothing, but felt like something. Liz was running away and she wasn't going home, and she sure as hell wasn't coming back here. Liz was running away for good.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As soon as Max walked away he began to feel guilty. He was pretty harsh to Liz. He turned around and saw Maria, Tess, and Isabel glaring at him. Liz was nowhere in sight. He looked beyond the tree where the girls were eating, and in the distance he could see a mousy brown ponytail flapping in the wind. Liz was running away.

-------------------------------------------------------
*Hey all thank you sooooo much for your wonderful feedback it's very much appreciated. This next part is basically filler, but hopefully I'll have some more parts out soon to get into more of the meat of the story, I can already tell this is going to be a long one! Once again, thanks to my beta Talena, it was late so I didn't have you review this part but please im or bmail me later about it.

Love you all,

<3 Senorita
posted on 6-Aug-2002 3:16:20 AM by senoritaspoiler
TabascaGurl: That is soo weird about your relatives! Definitely get back to us if there does happen to be any wacky relation going on! Can you imagine the pluses if you really were related! ahah

and yes to answer the other question, to simplify:

Maria- metalmouth, klutz
Isabel- macho, dyke-ish (I know that's not politically correct and I'm really sorry I have no homophobia whatsoever, it's just a character!)
Liz-nerd
Tess-fat(again, political correctness, but just a character)
posted on 7-Aug-2002 2:15:36 AM by senoritaspoiler
Part 4a

This is going to be a long one folks, so I'm posting it in parts. Here we go with the first!

<3 Senorita


Making up is hard to do part a

The wind blew threw the car window, giving Liz chills. She looked around for the button to push it up, and finding it grinned in satisfaction upon finding her prey. Liz hit the button and watched with intensity as the window zoomed up, instantly warming the car. She let out a contented smile and turned to look at the driver of the shiny, $50,000 BMV x5 she was riding in.

Max took his eyes off the winding desert road only long enough to flash a smile at Liz. She looked so happy sitting in the passenger seat, staring out the window. He couldn't believe she actually trusted him again, after everything he'd done.

And now he was well on his way to winning the bet. Liz was actually letting Max take her to a renowned spa in Santa Fe for a makeover for her birthday. Maria, Tess, and Isabel were eagerly waiting at the spa as a surprise for Liz. And Max sat, with one hand on the wheel and the other hanging freely out the window, marveling at his good luck; but then again, what else did he expect, he was Max Evans. But still, this was an idea that even he had begun to question during the past month regaining a passage into Liz's world and finally her reluctant friendship and almost trust.
----------------------------------------------
A Month Earlier

Liz kept on running. Her lungs were on fire and her heart beat wildly against her chest. So hard it seemed it would just beat too hard and burst from her chest at any moment. Her throat was dry and the tears and sweat were mingling on her forehead forming hot pools on her cheeks.

Defeated Liz collapsed against a tree, panting and sobbing with each labored breath. Max had hurt her so badly. When her mom had yelled at her and scolded her for years about being unpretty it had stung. Max's comment had bitten deep into her most vital veins, and poison was seeping through her bloodstream. She could feel the venom coursing through her, fueling her racketing sobs.
-------------------------------------------
As the clouds began to descend over Roswell, and the sun began to descend in the sky. Liz finally picked her limp form up from the ground and began her trek to wherever she was going to go. She had nothing, except her friends, and she knew they would understand. She knew she couldn't go home, so Liz wearily began heading towards the only place she knew she would be accepted.
--------------------------------------------
"Who is it?" yelled out Amy DeLuca as she made her way towards the pounding at the door. Without waiting for an answer Amy undid the deadbolt and flung open the door, surprised to see Liz this late in the evening. Liz was usually hard at work on her homework around now.

"Hi Lizziebear! How are you honey?" exclaimed Amy, pulling Liz into a huge bear hug.

"I've missed you around here, I think it's been, what, two days since the last time you were here? Oh Lizzie, you must come around more often," Mrs. DeLuca joked, winking at Liz and ushering her inside.

"MARIA! MARIA! Come on down, Lizzie's here!"

"Coming mom," screamed Maria equally loud thundering down the stairs. The DeLuca's didn't seem to be able to do anything quietly.

A loud thud came from the steps, and Mrs. DeLuca ran to see what had happened.

She found Maria sprawled at the bottom of the steps grinning madly.

"Maria, are you okay?" cried Liz and Mrs. DeLuca at the same time.

Maria continued grinning, "Oh yah, fine, just a little tumble. Stairs can be quite tricky."

Maria brushed herself off and Liz let out a grin. She knew she could come here to find some relief from her day and get a good laugh.

That's when Maria really looked at Liz, and she could only give her a look of deep empathy and pity. She knew how Liz was feeling, they'd all felt it a million times before. But damn, it still hurt. Maria enveloped Liz in a tight hug and ushered her into a kitchen, pulling open doors, drawers, and closets and pulling out a half-gallon of Rocky Road ice cream and two spoons.

"Sit down Liz, we need to talk."

And so Liz sat.

The two girls sat like that, just talking and eating ice cream for hours. The carton began to drip, and so did the girls eyes, but the night continued. It was past one o'clock, but the two girls were there for each other. When Liz needed to cry she did. When she needed to be held Maria held her. When Mrs. DeLuca had come down at 10 to tell Liz that she probably should be heading home, Maria had pulled her mom aside and politely explained the situation. Mrs. DeLuca had given a sad, understanding look in Liz's direction, nodded her head, and left to head upstairs and call Mrs. Parker. Tonight was definitely a night for an illegal school night sleepover.

And so it was at 3AM that the two girls threw away the sticky ice cream carton, put on their pajamas, and climbed into bed, instantly falling asleep side by side, but not before saying goodnight.

"Goodnight Maria, I love you and thank you for tonight."

"I love you too Liz, and no problem. Now go to sleep."

Liz turned around, and the two girls fell asleep smiling.
--------------------------------------------
Liz didn't go to school the next few days. Her mother for once was actually understanding and let Liz stay home. But her mother didn't think there was any importance to school, that looks were what got you places in life, so it wasn't that big of a favor.

Three days later Mrs. Parker finally got sick of talking to the school secretary and lying to her friends, so it was back to school for Liz. It would 'toughen her up' Mrs. Parker said.

The morning of her second first day at school, Maria, Isabel and Tess showed up at Liz's house bright and early to accompany her to school. Maria had gotten her mom to let her use the old Jetta, and the girls were all driving to school instead of walking for a change.

First period was hell. Liz walked in and could feel all the eyes on her. By now the entire population of Roswell High had heard what had happened, and the rumors and the curious eyes made Liz feel even smaller than usual. Liz hated to be the center of attention, she always tried to keep to the shadows and avoid confrontations. Why did this have to happen to her?

Liz slid to the back of the class and stood staring at her desk. She couldn't and wouldn’t sit next to Max Evans.

"Hey Liz, over here," Liz heard someone whisper.

Liz turned around and saw Petey Rossburger, one of the really dorky guys calling to her. Liz had always been friendly with Petey, he was a really nice guy and really smart, too.

"Hey Liz, you want to trade seats with me?"

"Yes!" said Liz a little too loudly, flashing Petey a sincere grin. He really was a nice guy.

Petey smiled back, picked up his backpack, and moved to the back of the room to take Liz's old seat. Liz gratefully put her books down and slid into Petey's old seat. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.

Who was Liz kidding? Just then the warning bell rang and Mr. Seligman and Max walked in at the same time. Max's eyes darted to the back where Liz had sat and his face fell when he saw Petey sitting in her seat. Then his eyes scanned the room and he saw Liz sitting a few rows up, his eyes jumped with excitement.

-------------------------------------------------------
Biology was pretty uneventful. Liz paid attention as best she could, and never looked back.

As soon as the bell rang Liz had already packed her books and darted from the room using her slim frame to her advantage to slide easily between desks and out the door. Finally in the safety of the hall Liz slowed down and made her way, head down as usual, towards her locker.

When Liz arrived, Tess and Maria were already waiting. Isabel was already on her way to Math on the other side of the building, so they had to do without. The three girls talked about class and inconsequential things while Liz dialed in the combination to her trusty locker.

Just as Liz turned around to talk to Maria and open up her locker, she was hit in the side of the face by something surprisingly sweet smelling. Liz jumped backwards and watched as a huge bouquet of purple and white flowers fell to the ground. Startled, Liz bent down to pick them up. Liz smelled the flowers and looked around to Tess and Maria, seeing the same confused glance she knew was reflecting in her own eyes. Liz managed to find a card.

The flowers crashed to the ground. And Liz ran with tears threatening in her eyes down the hall to the bathroom. In her wake stood a shocked Maria and Tess, a bouquet of fallen flowers, and a wide open locker.

Maria gently closed Liz's locker while Tess bent down to pick up the flowers. Tess opened the tag and felt her fists clench with anger as she reread the tag. Maria mimicked Tess's angry gestures as she, too, bent over Tess's shoulders to read the tag.

"That Fucking bastard!" screamed Maria, earning herself a few curious stares. Maria bent her head embarrassedly, easing back into the shadows. But there was no time for self-consciousness as Tess chucked the flowers into the waste bin and the two girls took off down the hall after Liz.

"Don't worry Liz," whispered Maria purposefully, "we'll keep that bastard away from you, no matter what."
---------------------------------------------------
Tess and Maria missed second period consoling Liz in the bathroom. They filled her ears with encouragement. Venting their frustrations and all laughing as they yelled about what a bastard Max was.

Evilly Tess pulled a black marker from her bag and grinned evilly. On the door of the first stall Tess disguised her handwriting and scrawled out in loopy writing:

Evans Escort Services for Hire
Contact Max Evans, esq. For prices and to set up an appointment

The girls fell over giggling, and the girls finally headed off to their next period classes.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully and Liz was sitting with five minutes left in her last period of the day waiting impatiently for the bell to ring. Four minutes….three minutes…..two minutes….Liz was almost there.

Just then a freshman walked into class holding a bouquet of fresh summer flowers. The class, including the teacher, looked at the student in confusion, but the student proceded determinedly to walk towards Liz and placed the bouquet on her desk.

"From Max Evans," she said, and then turned around and walked right out. All eyes were on Liz, and she flushed with embarrassment and anger. But the torture was just beginning. After the first freshman, an entire parade of almost thirty underclassmen, boys and girls, followed, each holding another bouquet, a card, or a box of candy. The teacher was becoming extremely annoyed, but there was one minute left in class so he sighed dejectedly and joined the other students at staring blatantly at Ms. Parker and her apparent entourage. Finally the bell rang and the gifts stopped coming.

Liz jumped from her seat, not acknowledging any of the gifts and ran straight from the room. Liz made her way past the curious eyes of the other students, grabbed her books from her locker, and made her way out of the school. Liz saw Max Evans a ways down the hall joking with his friends. She spun around and headed out the nearest door. She didn't even bother to wait for Maria, she just made her way towards home as fast as possible. Anything was better than being here.
-------------------------------------------------------
Liz thought that maybe Max had finally given up. Over a week had passed since the flower incident, which was all over school by the way, and Liz had shrunk back into the shadows, her encounter with the most popular guy in school old news. The pain, while still biting, was growing less sharp as the days passed.

The week was finally over, and Liz couldn’t' have been happier. Liz met Isabel, Tess, and Maria in the commons and they walked home together, discussing their weekend plans.

Around four, the girls were all sitting around Liz's kitchen eating leftover pizza and laughing when all of a sudden the doorbell rang.

Mrs. Parker ran down the stairs, pulling out her curlers and coating her lips in lipstick as she ran in one heel towards the door.

"Don't worry Liz, let me get it, I'm sure it's for me!" Mrs. Parker called out running towards the door and straightening out her skirt before plastering on a big smile and opening the door.

"Ok mom," yelled Liz, turning back to her friends.

All of a sudden her friends when silent, and Liz looked up towards her friends confused.
Tess, Maria and Isabel were all standing open mouthed staring at something behind Liz. Liz was too scared to turn around.

"Liz, you have a visitor," said Mrs. Parker ushering Max into the kitchen, "and a very cute one apparently. You be nice Elizabeth Parker, this boy is here to see you, for what reason I don't know, but be nice!," Mrs. Evans winked at Max and left to finish getting ready.

Liz's face flushed in anger.

"Get out!" screamed Maria in blinding fury. "Get out now or I'll call the cops,"

Liz turned around, and all the color drained from Max's face.

"I'm sorry Liz, I really am. Please talk to me, please let me apologize," she better let him talk to her he thought, it had taken a whole lot of sucking up and thinking about those 800 dollars to make himself come over here and apologize.

"You get away right now you fucking bastard!" screamed Tess, her plump cheeks quivering.

Isabel put one hand on the table and eased herself up menacingly. Max gulped.

"Please Liz, please…" Max begged.

"…You bastard," said Maria again, in an anger induced daze.

Liz finally felt she had to do something. Max had hurt her, but she at least felt it to him to hear him out. She definitely didn't have to forgive or forget, but she could listen to his pleas. Damn her for being such a nice person Liz berated herself.

She turned to Max calmly, "alright I'll hear you out Max, but on one condition; you fully accept responsibility for your actions and you don't jerk me around."

"Liz, no, you don't owe this bastard anything, don't listen to him!" screamed Maria. Liz pushed out her chair and stood up walking calmly over to Max. He seemed shocked that she had accepted his invitation to talk so easily. Liz pushed him up the stairs towards her room with her friends' curses reverberating in the background. Liz hoped to hell she wasn't making the wrong decision that she wasn't just asking to be cruelly stabbed in the heart once again.

TBC…..

Sorry to end it there! Part B will basically be about Max trying to make it up to Liz and there first times hanging out together (like in She's All That) but don't worry, Liz isn't going to trust Max yet. There's a lot of hurt and that will take time, especially if Liz's friends have anything to say about it!

Love you all, <3 Senorita

P.S. Thank you all sooooo much for the awesome feedback! It's a definite cure to writer's block!

posted on 11-Aug-2002 8:38:37 PM by senoritaspoiler
Part 4b

"So…Liz," said Max after they had walked upstairs into Liz's room.

"What Max?" asked Liz coolly.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes, okay."

"Okay then."

"Okay."

"Liz, please say something else besides okay."


"Okay."

"Liz, I really am sorry. What I said to you was wrong and I didn't mean any of
it. It's just that I'm so used to getting everything I want and having girls
just drool and trip over themselves to get within five feet of me that when you
didn't meet me after I sent you that note and sat next to you in class, and then
I see you with your friends…"



"Max."



"What?"



"Is that what you call accepting responsibility for your actions, because in my
book that's just a bunch of 'poor me, I get whatever I want' excuses. And no
offense, but that just doesn’t do it for me."



"I'm sorry Liz. I don't know how to do this apology thing. But I really am
sorry. I truly, truly, truly am sorry. What can I do to make it up to you Liz,
please tell me, because I see the flowers didn't work," said Max with a grin on
his face.



Liz had to grimace, "Max, I didn't ask for all those flowers. I never wanted
any of that attention. Why did you even want to talk to me in the first place?
I didn't come that day because I thought it was all some sort of cruel joke,
like usual. I don't understand why you're even here now. You didn't have to
apologize to me…I'm nothing. All I want is just to be left alone, can't you
understand?"



For the first time, probably in his life, Max actually felt guilty about
accepting this bet. Damn, of all times to feel deep emotions. Max could see
the hurt and pain flickering in Liz's brown eyes, the glasses and the stoic
exterior did nothing to hide it. Max cringed at the thought that he had caused
some if not all of the pain that shone in those deep brown pools. But she was
right about something, he never would have thought to apologize, let alone talk
to Liz Parker, one of the Horrorsome Foursome if not for this bet.



"I'm sorry Liz; I want you to know the flowers were well intentioned. And that
day, I wanted to talk to you because I figured we'd be working together in
science all year, and isn't it the job of the student body president, and your
lab partner to get to know the student body?"



"So now you decide to make friendly with me? All I've ever done is tried to
hide from you and sink into the shadows so as not to be the butt of your stupid
jokes!" Emotions were flying, and the deep hurt and anger that Liz had tried to
keep at bay was slowly emerging as the walls of Liz's self control were torn
down with each syllable out of Max Evan's mouth.



"I'm sorry," was all Max could say, stupefied at Liz's sudden showing of
emotion. Max felt a tinge in his side, and tried to shirk off the knowing
feeling of guilt once again creeping up on him.



"Whatever Max, come back when you grow up. If you seriously wanted to get to
know me, not just to play one of your stupid, cruel jokes on me then come back
with a real apology. Please leave my house now, my friends are waiting
for me downstairs." Liz couldn't believe she had just spoken to the most
popular guy in school that way. But she had, and he wasn't responding with some
witty comeback mocking out her looks or telling her how insignificant and
unpretty she was. Instead he stood there looking incredibly guilty, his head
hanging down and his hands shoved deep into his pockets.



"I really am sorry Liz, but I can see its no use. I'll leave before I cause a
scene, but we will talk again Liz Parker. I can see myself out." With that Max
turned and walked out of Liz's bedroom.



Liz stood there trembling as she heard the front door swing shut. Liz didn't
move, didn't blink, even as her friends pounded up the stairs. She didn't move
as her friends crowded around her asking what had happened. She sat there, in a
trance, until one single tear spilled from the corner of her eye, ran lazily
down her cheek, dripped down her lip, and finally splashed onto the front of her
faded overalls.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another week passed uneventfully as Liz threw herself into her school work and
tried to put her encounter with Max Evans out of her mind. Liz did notice some
differences though. When Maria and Liz got mocked by Kyle and Sean about their
clothes in gym class, Max had slyly refrained from speaking, only making futile
attempts to send sympathetic looks Liz's way. At least it was a start Liz
thought dejectedly. She knew Max probably hadn't meant what he said about
wanting to get to know her and all. No one voluntarily made friends with the
Horrorsome Foursome. But still, he had seemed sincere. Too bad he was just a
jerk like she had always known deep down.



Friday after first period Liz was sitting by her tree before school chatting
lazily with Tess, Maria and Isabel before subjugating to the fate that awaited
her in first period. All of a sudden Liz felt a tap on her back.



Liz, Isabel, Maria, and Tess all popped out of their conversation and stared
wide eyed at the unexpected visitor.



There stood Max, holding a card, a box of chocolates, and a bouquet of white
lilies with a paranormally large grin on his face.



"Go away please," said Liz.



"Why are you up to this again Max Evans, can't you just leave us alone?" cried
Maria, tears welling in her eyes. The teasing had always gotten to Maria more
than any of the other girls.



"Liz, stop, please listen to me."



"I'm through listening Max. Just leave me alone, pretend all of our
interactions never happened. Just leave me and my friends alone for God's sake,
we never asked for your attention!"



Max's face fell, "Please Liz just listen to me."



"I'm so incredibly sorry for what I said to you and for all the hurtful things
I've done to you and your friends. I have no one to blame but myself. I'm not
perfect, and though I try to be I'm not. I was an ass Liz, a first rate jerk,
please take my gifts and accept my apology, please."



"I'm not going to accept your apology Max just to assuage your guilty
conscience. You hurt me, time and time again, and no matter how many damn
flowers you give me the pain just won't magically disappear because you want it
to. Words hurt Max. They cut like a hot knife against tender flesh and the
pain is so white hot that the pain penetrates all the way down to the bone."



"So please leave Max, leave this tree, and leave my life."



Liz got up, ready to make a defiant exit, when Max grabbed her. Liz could
practically taste the tension, and for some odd reason Liz got a tingly feeling
in the place where Max had touched her arm. Liz shrugged her arm away and
slapped at Max's hand.



Max couldn’t' believe he had just grabbed her. But Max couldn't lose this bet.
Besides, he actually did feel guilty. And Max Evans definitely wasn't one to
give up.



"Liz, please. I am sorry. I am sorry. Please Liz, you don't have to forgive me
but at least give me a chance. Come with me to Pam's Party next weekend. That
gives you time to think it through and make up all your excuses. But please,
think about it. I really am sorry Liz."



Maria, Tess, and Isabel looked at Liz mouth agape. Max Evans had just asked Liz
to Pam's party. This had to be some form of weird, cruel joke. Liz's mouth
flew open, too. Had Max just invited her to Pam's party? She was so flustered
she could barely form words, she was waiting for Max's patented grin and for him
to start laughing hysterically. 'Just kidding Liz, you're such an ugly loser why
would I ever even talk to you, oh my God, I can't believe you fell for it!"



"Are you serious?" asked Liz.



"One hundred percent," said Max, and he grinned noting her flustered expression.
But there was no laughing, no psyche, and 'just kidding', just a smile. And
with that Max left.



"Think about it Liz," shouted Max as he walked away.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next week passed again uneventfully, with days filled with Liz's friends
listing off excuses as to why she shouldn't go to Pam's party. She continued to
shrug them off, laughing and making sure they knew she never even considered
going anyways. Finally Friday came around again, and Pam's party was just a day
away. Max had never called to ask if she was coming, never spoken to her in
school, only shot her a few friendly smiles in the hall (which she hadn't
returned). It was Friday and she knew it must of have been a joke. The thought
sunk in and Liz realized once again that she had actually started to trust Max
Evans. But she couldn't trust him, that must was obvious, and Max had
reiterated it time and time again.



But what was that spark when he touched her. She had felt something, a tingle.
Who was she kidding, though. She was Liz Parker, dorky, ugly, nerd Liz Parker.
And he was Max Evans. And he continued to hurt her deeper and deeper. Every
time her heart told her to trust him her mind had to come crashing back to
reality and remind her of his constant torture. Liz sat in front of the
television in her family room flipping boredly through channels. Tess was at
her granparents for her weekly family dinner, and Isabel and Maria were both at
home, undoubtedly sitting around doing the same thing Liz was right now. Liz's
mom was out of town for the weekend, which was a plus at least.



Liz was sitting on the couch watching an infomercial for Nad's when she heard
the doorbell ringing. What? Who the hell would come to her door, especially
when her mom was out of town. Maybe her mom had missed a date? Or maybe it was
one of those girl scouts with the little sash and the really good cookies. Hmm,
should definitely get the door.



But to Liz's chagrin, none other than Max Evans was standing with his dopey grin
on her doorstep. Luckily he had no flowers this time.



"Hi Liz," he said brightly.



"Oh joy, it's you."



"So, have you decided if you're coming to the party with me tomorrow night?"



"…You know Max..."



"Stop, right there. I knew you would be making a ton of lame excuses so I
thought I'd save you the trouble. Washing your hair? I bought a gift
certificate to the best spa in New Mexico. Mom's sick? I called her office and
they say she's out of town. Your friends all say they have no plans for
tomorrow night. Lots of homework? Have to clean your room? I brought along
the junior varsity soccer team, ready and at your service, for your homework and
housecleaning needs. So what do you say Liz, will you come?"



Liz stood there, one hand clenching the door in utter shock. She looked out at
the blue New Mexico autumn sky and half expected a pig to fly past her house.
He had all her possible excuses covered. She had practiced a bunch of them, and
decided on going with her mother was sick. Damn, good thing he hadn't let
herself get caught in a blatant lie. What could she do? She had to say no.
Maybe she could just say no.



"Max...I really don't know about this, I'd rather not."



"Please Liz?"



"Max…"



"Alright, alright. But if you won't accept my offer to go to Pam's party, at
least let me have the jv team clean up your house, no charge. And will you at
least let me take you to the spa with me tomorrow? I have this certificate and
I really want you to have it, and you can bring your friends if you like, I got
them all certificates, too."



Liz stood there staring at Max, unblinking. What was going on?



"Liz?"



"Ok."



"What?"



"I said okay, Max. I'll give you a second chance, but I'm not going to Pam's
party."



"Alright Liz, if that's how you want it. But let's go to the spa ok? It will
be fun."

Little did Liz know Max had booked the salon to give Liz a complete makeover, he
had even called Liz's eye doctor and gotten her prescription to order her
contacts. He needed her to agree to come.



"Okay."



"Okay? Is that all you have to say,"



"Yes."



"Alright Liz. Well I'll pick you and your friends up tomorrow at 8 AM. It's
about an hour to the spa, and I planned a whole day for you."



"Okay."



"Ughhh, you really are a piece of work, you know that?" Max said smiling; only
knowing the real truth behind that statement.



"See you tomorrow Liz."



Max turned around and walked away, eager to tell his sister, Cam, that Liz had
agreed, and put his plan Operation: Makeover Liz, into action. Who knows, maybe
he could still go to Pam's party and get some ass, too.


[ edited 1 time(s), last at 11-Aug-2002 8:54:21 PM ]
posted on 26-Aug-2002 5:41:29 PM by senoritaspoiler
Hey guys! Thank you so much all of you for your awesome feedback and continued bumps. I was away for twelve days traveling all over the US, and now I'm back. I almost finished *The Makeover* before I left, and I'm ready to finish it up and hopefully have it out by tomorrow after passing it on to my beta. Once again thank you all for the bumps and your support, I couldn't do it without you all! <3 Senorita
posted on 27-Aug-2002 12:55:59 PM by senoritaspoiler
Part 5

**The Makeover**

Teaser from part 4a:

The wind blew through the car window, giving Liz chills. She looked around for the button to push it up, and finding it grinned in satisfaction upon finding her prey. Liz hit the button and watched with intensity as the window zoomed up, instantly warming the car. She let out a contented smile and turned to look at the driver of the shiny, $50,000 BMV x5 she was riding in.

Max took his eyes off the winding desert road only long enough to flash a smile at Liz. She looked so happy sitting in the passenger seat, staring out the window. He couldn't believe she actually trusted him again, after everything he'd done.

And now he was well on his way to winning the bet. Liz was actually letting Max take her to a renowned spa in Santa Fe for a makeover for her birthday. Maria, Tess, and Isabel were eagerly waiting at the spa as a surprise for Liz. And Max sat, with one hand on the wheel and the other hanging freely out the window, marveling at his good luck; but then again, what else did he expect, he was Max Evans. But still, this was an idea that even he had begun to question during the past month regaining a passage into Liz's world and finally her reluctant friendship and almost trust.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Max sat up abruptly in his bed, thick beads of sweat rolling lazily down his forehead. The red digits on the alarm clock blared 4:16 A.M. Panting heavily, Max groaned and threw his pillow over his head.

Max hated when he got set up by his friends for one of these stupid bets. It wasn’t his fault that ever since the cradle he hadn't been able to turn down a single bet. The stupid, the weird, the crazy. He did them all, much to his own chagrin. Sometimes he even thought he was a crazy idiot for taking all these bets. Especially this latest bet. First he had felt guilty about manipulating Liz. She was actually a nice girl. And now he was having dreams of her actually complying happily with him taking her to the spa, and her actually knowing she was going to be made-over. Max still hadn't let her in on his "little surprise". With all the cash he'd blown, not that it mattered to him, but still, she better let them make her over. He'd be damned if he lost this bet. But the weird dreams, they were starting to freak him out.

No matter what he did Max knew Liz was no beauty queen. He just hoped with enough makeup, some tight clothes, and Max on her arm that the student population wouldn't be able to see that Liz was only a Monet, perfect from afar but insignificant up close. All he needed was for people to think she was cool, she needn't be cool. They had to think she was pretty; she didn't need to actually be pretty. He could do it. In just a few hours Liz would be in his car. Max had called Alex and Michael to let them know, and they had given him hearty congratulations. Max hoped to keep it from Sean long enough to sidestep any sabotage Sean might have in store. Sean was one of Max's best friends, but he was a class A jerk, and moreover a sore loser.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max pulled up outside Liz's house in his brand new beamer a few minutes early. He figured she still might be a little reluctant, so he wanted to get there early to make sure they could make it on time. Who knew how long it would take to make one of the Horrorsome Foursome look presentable. Max had told Liz that she could bring her friends, so he had made a quick call to Henri at the salon and asked him to keep them occupied. After Max picked up Liz he was headed to pick up the rest of the Horrorsome Foursome and bring them all down to the salon. Hopefully they wouldn't leave any grease stains on his new car, or lice for that matter or some other contagious germs. How did he get himself into this Max thought for the millionth time? Oh well, as long as he got Liz made-over hopefully things would work themselves out from there. Max usually liked to have the solutions pre-packaged before a problem was conceived, but this time he was fresh out of ideas, and it scared him.

Max shifted the gear into park and popped out of the car. He rang the doorbell and waited a minute before Liz peered her head out of the door.

"Hi Max."

"Morning Liz, are you ready?" Max asked with his patented grin. Liz nodded her head and followed Max to the car. Max made a grand show of opening the door for her, and smiled smugly to himself when he noticed the tips of her lips lift upwards.

"So are we picking up Maria, Tess, and Isabel like you said?" asked Liz hopefully.

"Yep, that's our next stop. I figured you wouldn't want to just hang out with me so I asked all your friends and they said they'd go just so you wouldn't have to be alone with me."

Liz grinned an actual grin for the first time since Max and her had had their first fateful interaction in biology.

"Thank you, Max."
"What? What for?"

"I don't know. You were a total jerk, and I can't even understand myself why I forgave you. I still don't know if I have. For you to take my friends and me out to this spa, and pay for it yourself… Why are you even doing this? You get nothing out of it. It's a really nice gesture, and you definitely didn't need to do it…" Liz paused and began to chuckle, "But now I'm off on a tangent. I just want to say thank you. Thank you for this, Max."

Max gulped and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He turned to Liz and grinned sheepishly.

"You're welcome Liz."

Max and Liz sat in uneasy silence the rest of the trip there, along with Isabel, Tess, and Maria, who all entered the vehicle in stoic silence and sat with their arms crossed the entire trip. A half an hour into the trip Max got frustrated and turned the urban hip-hop station up. Max lifted his eyebrow towards the rearview mirror in question, but was only met with three stone like faces. Just lovely.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max pulled up to the spa and as soon as the engine was off the three girls in the backseat bolted out. Liz hopped out a second after and the girls stood chatting nervously while Max unbuckled himself and locked the car.

"This way, ladies," he grinned, making a show of pointing his arms in the direction of the fashionable brick building.

The girls followed behind him, and each gave him a sharp glance while they all walked through the door he was holding open. Liz walked through last, mouthing the only thank you as she made her way through.

"Max, you're here! We've been waiting for you. All preparations are in place!" Yelled an excited voice as Max walked through the door.

"Ladies, I want you to meet the head stylist here at the Desert Spa, and an old family friend. Henri this is Liz, Tess, Maria, and Isabel," said Max pointing to the girls in succession, "and girls, this is Henri."

"Well, well, we do have our work cut out for us," responded the high pitched voice while the girls stared awkwardly at Henri, sizing him up. Henri was of average height, maybe a little shorter. He had short, spiky dirty blonde hair with white blonde tips. He was wearing tight black see-through tank-top and tight black pants with black boots. His face was tan and his torso toned. And he looked sympathetically at the girls.

"And who might be the lovely Liz?" asked Henri. Liz diminutively raised a small hand, and Henri's eyebrows shot up.

But the silence was shortlived.

"Brenda, Roxanna, Sergi!" cried Henri shrilly. "Please take these three girls into the spa for numbers 6, 7, and 12. Move, move, move!"

A team of two very stylish looking men and one short, wild looking girl ran out from behind the counter and each put an arm around Tess, Isabel, and Maria leading them through a covered doorway into the "back."

"Good luck, Liz, have fun sweetie!" shouted Maria as she was pulled through the door, leaving one lingering look towards her best friend.

And then it was Max and Liz left standing alone in the center of the ostentatious foyer of the Desert Spa, and a very well-dressed stylist glinting evilly at Liz.

"Alright Maxwell, I'll have Heidi come and take you to the waiting room. Lizzie and I have a fun day planned, so don't worry your cute little head off. Go take a seat, eat a crumpet, and when you're done you will have one hot little mama and your hands!" Henri laughed evilly and called for Heidi while grasping Liz firmly by the hand and leading her through the same door her friends had passed through only minutes earlier.

"Bye Liz, have fun," said Max, a smile frozen on his face while Liz entered through the door, never to be the same again.

A buxom blonde sidled towards Max, a fake smile also frozen on her plastically plump lips.
"Bonjour, Maxwell. Yous may come vit me."

Max smiled happily, maybe while waiting for Liz to get made presentable he could get some ass sooner than previously thought. And as Max followed behind the blonde he couldn't help but smile at what a cute ass it was.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Through the door:

Henri dragged Liz down winding halls until he abruptly stopped at an unmarked door miles away from anything else. He pulled out a key and gingerly knocked and then placed the key in the door. He unlocked it and pulled Liz through with him, and she was transported into another world.

Standing before Liz's eyes were an army of people, their weapons blow dryers and powder puffs, their uniforms black aprons emblazoned with the Desert Spa logo. And the faces were all smiling at her. Liz couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into.

Luckily she didn't have time to ponder very long as Henri took Liz by the hand and pushed her down into an ominous looking black chair situated in the center of the room.

People swarmed around her, pulling at her hair, ripping off her glasses, and examining her with pen and pad in hand. Liz felt like screaming. She was confused, and at the moment blind, having no idea what was going on around her. She felt like she had been transported into another dimension, living out a television show where everyone was watching her and she was the only one who didn't know that camera were taping every second of her life and millions of viewers were sitting transfixed at their television sets laughing at her own expense.

Finally someone replaced her glasses. Immediately the world came back into literal focus, but Liz was still very much confused. A man who looked similar to Henri took Liz by the hand and led her to the back of what Liz had thought a bottomless room. He stood by a sink with contacts of every color laid out in a row.

"So Elee-zee-bet, you see a color dat you vant? You can choose anee vun dat you vould like," he said pointing to the row of contacts.

"I thought I was having a day at the spa? What in the world is going on?" asked Liz nervously.

"Oh honee, dis is your day at dee spa. You will geet all your spa treatments, it's all been paid for. Just enjoy yourself. Let us make you boo-tee-full. Now choose Elee-zee-bet."

Liz was even more confused now, but always being a shy person, when asked to do something she did it. She stared unseeingly towards the row of contacts, picking up a pair of amber colored ones almost unconsciously.

"Oh, those vould bee exquisite on you!" squealed the man, clapping his hands gaily at her choice.

"Oh no, I don't want these," said Liz quickly dropping the box like hot coals. The man's face fell, and he gave her a patronizing look.

Liz quickly picked up a box of honey-tinted ones that wouldn't really change the color of her eyes.

"Here, I choose this one!" she said, hoping to turn his disappointment into approval.

"Another mauvelous choice Elee-zee-bet! Now let us put these babies een your eeyes," screeched the man, once again becoming excited, prying the glasses from Liz's face and leading her by the hand to the sink.

After a half hour of failed attempts, and a number of frustrated attempts and a bottle of contact solution Liz finally had the contacts in. She had no idea why she had put them in, especially at a spa, but she kept her questions inside. Liz had never thought about getting contacts. They were too much of a hassle and a tool of beauty. And Liz was not beautiful, and as she always said, why even try? And right now the contacts were pretty damn painful. But before the contacts could even settle and adjust to Liz's eyes she was being pulled by the very impatient man, who she still hadn't bothered to get's name, and was led back to the chair.

Immediately Liz was surrounded by an armada of hair product toting minions.

"Dear, dear, we do have our work cut out for us," mumbled a tiny woman with multi-colored hair, yanking furiously at the rubber band in Liz's hair.

"Ouch!" screamed Liz, she felt like her hair was being wretched by the roots and her scalp was beginning to tingle.

"Beauty is pain, honey" responded the exotic little woman dryly.

"But I don't want to be beautiful. I want to be alive!" Liz screamed back.

"Oh don't be such a baby, dear. Just one more minute...and there…yes, yes, YES!"
The rubber band flew free from the raggedy confines of Liz's hair and fell onto the floor. Liz was suddenly wheeled backwards and the little woman was pumping at the base of Liz's chair, slowly descending her unto her impeding doom.

A towel was placed under Liz's neck and her head was firmly grasped and jerked back until she could feel the cold porcelain sink crawling over her on the back of her head. Water cascaded over her unruly mop, and the woman's quick fingers made their way ruthlessly through Liz's thick mane. The room remained silent, quiet footsteps pitter pattering around the room and quiet conversations breaking up the monotony.

Finally the woman once again jerked Liz's head upwards and lithely wrapped a towel around her head. Simultaneously she rolled Liz forward in front of a large vanity mirror, the epitomy of an "Old Hollywood" dressing table. Even the 60 watt light bulbs surrounding the mirror gave off a glamorous, old-fashioned vibe. The towel was let fly from Liz's hair and her dark locks tumbled out. Pink, green, red, purple, black, and yellow passed in a blur as the woman flashed behind Liz painting and chopping and pulling and shaping.

Everything was moving so fast Liz still hadn't begun to comprehend what was happening to her. All she had was a massive headache from the ripping and pulling that had ravaged her skull.

An hour later Liz was half asleep when the woman nudged her.

"All done, honey!" but before Liz could so much as peer towards the mirror she was spun around and being wheeled towards the center of the room, an older man's kindly face and graying hair squarely in her line of vision. He placed two hands on the side of Liz's chair and rolled her to another corner of the room. Brushes, palates, and every imaginable makeup item surrounded her senses. Liz was horrified.

Liz didn't "do" makeup. And he better not try to touch her skin with that crap. The hair was one thing, the contacts, she could deal. But touching her virginal skin? Not happening. But she didn't have a chance to respond before one goop or another was swabbed onto her face and the kindly man smiling brightly at her. Liz sat annoyed, peeved at her own niceness. She had to grow some balls, and fast. But that wasn't her, so she sat letting her face be made into the man's own personal canvas. Hey, that's why they invented soap anyways.

Liz sat and sat, opening her eyes when told to, shutting them on command, puckering her lips, and sucking in her cheeks. Again she was greeted with a broad grin as the man wielded his brush like an artist, with a flourish dipped it into a vat of light colored powder, and artistically brushed it onto Liz's skin.

"All done, Liz!" He said. Great, thought Liz, unsure of how many more times she could take hearing that phrase in one day. She was rolled backwards to the center of the room, and again, without time to even inhale, a striking blonde woman came and ripped the apron from Liz. Without speaking she stuck out her hand and gestured to Liz to follow her.

On unsteady feet Liz slowly pried herself from her chair, happy to be able to stretch her legs. But time was of the essence, and the woman, apparently chagrined at Liz's snail's pace grabbed her by the hand and led her not-so-gently through a back door into another small room.

God, this place was endless, Liz thought.

Liz's eyes were suddenly bombarded with colorful stacks of shirts, pants, shoes, hats, jackets, coats, and any other item of clothing imaginable. Once again without words the blond woman reached up into a rack and removed a handful of hangers, shoving them into Liz's hands. She quickly took off, and Liz assumed she should follow. The woman walked quickly, and Liz had to almost run to keep up. She entered into an enormous fitting room. The woman walked and took a seat at a large armchair seated in the corner of the room.

Liz was unsure what to do next. She took the armload of clothes and hung them up on one of the hooks against the wall. She stood to ponder for a minute, more than mildly confused. But of course, this hesitation was too long for the blond to handle.

"Well? Are you going to try them on or not? They are all your size. Go, I have things to do."

The sharp foreign accent acted as a jolt to Liz, and mechanically she reached for the first hanger, once again in deep thought as to what the hell her life had turned into.

Thousands of dollars worth of clothes later, the blonde woman was agitatedly filling bags with clothes apparently for Liz to take home, and Liz was standing looking down at herself. She still hadn't been allowed to see a mirror. She was wearing a knee length light brown suede skirt, knee high boots, a conservative brown turtleneck, and a pair of small hoop earrings. Liz had gone through dozens of skimpy and trendy outfits, finally settling on one of the most conservative of the bunch. And it had taken myriad sharp threats by the ominous blond to even get her into a skirt.

"Ok, you are done," was the woman's only reply and led Liz by the hand back through the doors to the first room.

In the middle of the room stood Liz's "team," all the people she had encountered and more, beaming proudly and clapping.

"Oh Elee-zee-bet!" cried Henry, wiping at what Liz hoped was a fake tear. "You my dear look absolutely purr-fect! Stunning! Gorgeous!"

The reactions from the rest of the crowd were similar.

"Would you like to look in a mirror now?" asked the blond woman, never one for small talk.

"Um, yah, I guess," said Liz, still utterly confused. What was all this for?

A procession proceeded and Henri carried over a full sized mirror and placed it in front of Liz.

Liz stood, mouth agape, taking in the reflection radiating from the mirror. In front of her stood a girl with long, flowing, rich brown hair, golden brown eyes you could actually see, a stylish outfit…

But it wasn't Liz. Liz couldn't help the redness that radiated from deep within and covered her cheeks. Max had thought she was unpretty. He had tried to make her pretty if he was going to even consider hanging out with her. She wasn't good enough as smart, caring, loyal Liz. She needed to be pretty. But Liz wasn't pretty, couldn't he understand. She was never good enough, never. God. Hot tears crept into the corners of Liz's eyes as she stood staring at the stranger in the mirror. The stranger was still unpretty, a bland brown box dressed up with wrapping paper and a bow. The same present inside, different paper. But in Liz's eyes the paper was cheesy Chanukkah paper used to save money on a Christmas package.

She turned, ready to run, like usual, from the hurt and pain engulfing her. But she was gripped in strong arms as the ever-happy Henri grabbed her by the shoulders and bouncedly directed her out of the room.

"Let's go out there and show the new Elee-zee-bet to the world!" he cried gleefully.

But Liz was anything but gleeful.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max sat flipping through the millionth hairstyle magazine. Isabel, Tess, and Maria had finished their spa services about an hour ago, so he had whipped out a wad of cash and told Henri to send them back for one more go.

Max was getting frustrated, and about to go up and talk with Henri when the door from which the other girls had emerged earlier was flung open. A reluctant girl was paraded in front of him.

Max's mouth dropped, and the magazine fell discarded to the floor as Max's hands went limp. The woosh of the paper hitting the sleek ground was eerily deafening.

Liz had her eyes downcast and her head lowered to hide the mixing blush and slow, salty tears caressing her painted face. But Sergi would have none of it, and confidently lifted Liz's chin up in his hands.

"Isn't she bee-oo-tee-full Monsiour Evans!"

But Max was too stunned to speak. He couldn't believe this was Elizabeth Parker. The Elizabeth who only hours ago was riding in his car, her ordinary face smothered in thick spectacles, her body wrapped in dowdy, faded overalls. The woman before him now was striking. Max couldn't breathe, let alone think. All he knew that Elizabeth Parker was beautiful.

TBC….


[ edited 1 time(s), last at 27-Aug-2002 12:56:31 PM ]
posted on 11-Sep-2002 6:42:24 PM by senoritaspoiler
I just want to thank everyone for all of the great stories they post on this board. It makes life fun, and means a lot to everyone. You all write wonderfully, and today I just want to thank you all!!!!

And on the subject of *Unpretty* I just want to say I'm sorry for not updating. At the end of summer I had a ton of reading and essays to finish, then school started. Every other day I have 3 and a half hour SAT classes, hours of schoolwork, I stay after school for labs 3 days a week, I'm meeting with teachers for DECA because I'm an officer, and I'm working overtime on homecoming issues and my class float as Student Council President! Woah...plus I tore some cartilage in my chest when I fell yesterday. I promise this weekend or as soon as possible I will write some more...I hate to leave you guys who mean so much and who keep bumping me hanging, but I got to do what I got to do.

Once again thank you all so much.


posted on 11-Sep-2002 6:58:11 PM by senoritaspoiler
God I love my readers! *tongue**tongue* You guys are the best and I just can't thank you enough for your support! Love you all...you know who you are. And to all you lurkers, thanks for reading, too. It means a lot to a girl.

hugs **Senorita**

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Juliette
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A Rose Is True Blue
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Angel eyes
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angelbaby6977

posted on 14-Sep-2002 9:24:16 PM by senoritaspoiler
Wow 200! Thank you guys so much. I'm so motivated to write...now if only I had some time.

[[Hugs]]

Senorita
posted on 15-Sep-2002 12:35:03 AM by senoritaspoiler
Bumping myself for reasons you'll find out momentarily!!


I promise its for good reason!


*angel*<3 Senorita*angel*
posted on 15-Sep-2002 1:26:51 AM by senoritaspoiler
PART 6 **TEASER**

This is all for you Talena!!!

But also thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and getting me to 200! You guys are great.

<3 Senorita

P.S. I promise the rest will be out ASAP within the next week or so. I just got to find time, and your feedback is great motivation, so keep it up!



Liz stood there fuming, tears scratching at the crevices of her deep brown eyes. She stood head bowed, not daring to look into Max’s eyes and see the condescension brewing in his amber colored eyes. She felt like an object, a toy. Contorted for Max’s enjoyment; for another reason to think of her as the mud under his kingly feet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But Max couldn’t stop staring. Starting at her long legs swathed in slick boots and a tight skirt and conservative turtleneck revealing a slender yet enticing body. Hard to believe this is what had lied all those years under baggy overalls. It was bad enough that most girls at school didn’t have the body and wore tight, revealing clothes…but to have it and not flaunt it; that was foreign to Max.

Her hair hung like liquid silk in a brow velvety veil around her face. Her head was bowed, as though in a sort of religious reverence revealing her submission to him. For some reason this unnerved Max. Girls were always attempting to seduce him or pull them into their slippery webs, bowing to his every beck and call. But Liz seemed to shy back from him, as though he was something foreign and scary.

Slowly she lifted her face, and her face looked absolutely gorgeous. Deep set brown eyes rested on top of chiseled cheekbones melting into full, rosy lips below a tiny, pert nose. Tears misted slowly down her perfect face, running painfully slow down her cheeks and over her chin. The look in her eyes was that of utter hatred.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One look at Max and Liz was in so much pain she had to run. The way he was looking at her, his body language, it was so foreign and so…so…she couldn’t even explain it. So she did what she knew best: she ran.

One foot after the other she ran awkwardly in the clunky heels. Pushing through the door she ran with blind emotion down hall after hall, tiring herself out as she got lost in the ever-ending maze.

Amidst one of the hallways she stopped, run ragged, chest heaving and tears plowing without hesitation from her eyes in unceasing streams. Her body was tired, but her heart hurt the most.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max was in a daze. One look at him and Liz had gotten a haunted look in her eyes and immediately taken off. He had no idea what to do, so he used his powerful legs, honed by years of sports and work-outs to follow her.

Max whirled past a confused Sergi and rushed through the door that Liz had hurtled through only moments ago.

He could hear footsteps in the distance and craned his ear to follow them. He turned down hallway after hallway, cursing under his breath. This could not be good.

One last turn and he saw Liz, looking crumpled and defeated slumped against the wall. Her small body racked with sobs and her skirt bunched up her thighs.

Max couldn’t help but feel sympathy course through his cold-blooded-arrogant veins.

“Liz…” he whispered tentatively.

There was no response.

“Liz?” he tried again.

“Go away, jerk.”

“Liz, can we talk?”

“I said go away.”

This was the calmest fight Max had ever had. He softly made his way over to her and eased to the floor beside her.

It was only when Max was down on the floor that she lifted her head, her tear stained face streaked with makeup. But the weird thing was, she only looked more beautiful; and so vulnerable.

Thoughts peeled through Max’s head for just one second. He couldn’t help but conjure up images of those full lips meshing with his. Hands intertwined, flesh on flesh.

WOAH THERE. REALITY CHECk. This is Liz Parker, Horrorsome Foursome Savant that you are talking about buddy. Get it together. It’s only a bet. She may look a little more respectable but she’s still a worthless nerd.

He pulled away from her imperceptibly and then moved his arm to be around her.

He was met with a shock. Her size belied her strength. With stunning force Liz pushed Max’s hand away before it even grazed her shoulder.

“You incredible haughty son of a bitch arrogant bastard!” she cried, losing all reigns over her escalating emotions. She was so confused, and he was only complicating matters by trying to play mister sympathetic for once in his sated life.

“Liz I don’t know why you are crying but I hope it’s not because of me. I never meant to hurt you, and if I did I’m terribly sorry from the bottom of my aching heart. Please don’t cry, it tears me up inside. You look absolutely stunning, you shouldn’t feel sad…”

“You bastard…” Liz was midway through her next slew of degrading curses when it struck her. Max Evans had told her she looked stunning. He had said she was beautiful. Liz was unable to fully comprehend the magnitude of that statement. So maybe Max’s intentions weren’t good, but he had actually thought she was pretty. Maybe she did have some worth. Okay, maybe was the operative word, but it gave Liz hope.

Her eyes immediately lit up and all evil thoughts that had been seconds ago swarming to get out of her devastated mind collapsed and dissipated.

Max saw the tears dry and gave her his patented cocky half grin and reached over to wipe the mascara from beneath her eyes.

The second the soft skin of his hands touched the smooth tawny skin of her face there eyes met. Only for a second, Liz quickly cast hers downwards, so ingrained was her inferiority complex. Max continued to gaze directly at her, gingerly, tenderly wiping off the scattered makeup. His touch lingering a second too long for a cool, calculated gesture.

He slowly eased his hand away, wiped it on his pants and offered it to Liz. Without ever looking up she reluctantly took the gesture and allowed him to pick her up.

Liz stared in horror as she saw how high her skirt had ridden up. Max on the other hand did not miss the free peepshow. He bit his lip as Liz nervously smoothed down her skirt, an effervescent pink coloring her cheeks.

“Let’s go get your friends and get out of here,” said Max reassuringly, thinking it best not to mention Pam’s party.

“Ok” said Liz, never looking up. But Max couldn’t tear his eyes away, and kept Liz glued to his peripheral vision as they found their way back through the maze of hallways and doors to find Maria, Tess, and Isabel.


posted on 31-Oct-2002 8:55:10 PM by senoritaspoiler
Part 6: Happy Halloween!

Liz stood there fuming, tears scratching at the crevices of her deep brown eyes. She stood head bowed, not daring to look into Max’s eyes and see the condescension brewing in his amber colored eyes. She felt like an object, a toy. Contorted for Max’s enjoyment; for another reason to think of her as the mud under his kingly feet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But Max couldn’t stop staring. Starting at her long legs swathed in slick boots and a tight skirt and conservative turtleneck revealing a slender yet enticing body. Hard to believe this is what had lied all those years under baggy overalls. It was bad enough that most girls at school didn’t have the body and wore tight, revealing clothes…but to have it and not flaunt it; that was foreign to Max.

Her hair hung like liquid silk in a brow velvety veil around her face. Her head was bowed, as though in a sort of religious reverence revealing her submission to him. For some reason this unnerved Max. Girls were always attempting to seduce him or pull them into their slippery webs, bowing to his every beck and call. But Liz seemed to shy back from him, as though he was something foreign and scary.

Slowly she lifted her face, and her face looked absolutely gorgeous. Deep set brown eyes rested on top of chiseled cheekbones melting into full, rosy lips below a tiny, pert nose. Tears misted slowly down her perfect face, running painfully slow down her cheeks and over her chin. The look in her eyes was that of utter hatred.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One look at Max and Liz was in so much pain she had to run. The way he was looking at her, his body language, it was so foreign and so…so…she couldn’t even explain it. So she did what she knew best: she ran.

One foot after the other she ran awkwardly in the clunky heels. Pushing through the door she ran with blind emotion down hall after hall, tiring herself out as she got lost in the ever-ending maze.

Amidst one of the hallways she stopped, run ragged, chest heaving and tears plowing without hesitation from her eyes in unceasing streams. Her body was tired, but her heart hurt the most.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max was in a daze. One look at him and Liz had gotten a haunted look in her eyes and immediately taken off. He had no idea what to do, so he used his powerful legs, honed by years of sports and work-outs to follow her.

Max whirled past a confused Sergi and rushed through the door that Liz had hurtled through only moments ago.

He could hear footsteps in the distance and craned his ear to follow them. He turned down hallway after hallway, cursing under his breath. This could not be good.

One last turn and he saw Liz, looking crumpled and defeated slumped against the wall. Her small body racked with sobs and her skirt bunched up her thighs.

Max couldn’t help but feel sympathy course through his cold-blooded-arrogant veins.

“Liz…” he whispered tentatively.

There was no response.

“Liz?” he tried again.

“Go away, jerk.”

“Liz, can we talk?”

“I said go away.”

This was the calmest fight Max had ever had. He softly made his way over to her and eased to the floor beside her.

It was only when Max was down on the floor that she lifted her head, her tear stained face streaked with makeup. But the weird thing was, she only looked more beautiful; and so vulnerable.

Thoughts peeled through Max’s head for just one second. He couldn’t help but conjure up images of those full lips meshing with his. Hands intertwined, flesh on flesh.

WOAH THERE. REALITY CHECk. This is Liz Parker, Horrorsome Foursome Savant that you are talking about buddy. Get it together. It’s only a bet. She may look a little more respectable but she’s still a worthless nerd.

He pulled away from her imperceptibly and then moved his arm to be around her.

He was met with a shock. Her size belied her strength. With stunning force Liz pushed Max’s hand away before it even grazed her shoulder.

“You incredible haughty son of a bitch arrogant bastard!” she cried, losing all reigns over her escalating emotions. She was so confused, and he was only complicating matters by trying to play mister sympathetic for once in his sated life.

“Liz I don’t know why you are crying but I hope it’s not because of me. I never meant to hurt you, and if I did I’m terribly sorry from the bottom of my aching heart. Please don’t cry, it tears me up inside. You look absolutely stunning, you shouldn’t feel sad…”

“You bastard…” Liz was midway through her next slew of degrading curses when it struck her. Max Evans had told her she looked stunning. He had said she was beautiful. Liz was unable to fully comprehend the magnitude of that statement. So maybe Max’s intentions weren’t good, but he had actually thought she was pretty. Maybe she did have some worth. Okay, maybe was the operative word, but it gave Liz hope.

Her eyes immediately lit up and all evil thoughts that had been seconds ago swarming to get out of her devastated mind collapsed and dissipated.

Max saw the tears dry and gave her his patented cocky half grin and reached over to wipe the mascara from beneath her eyes.

The second the soft skin of his hands touched the smooth tawny skin of her face there eyes met. Only for a second, Liz quickly cast hers downwards, so ingrained was her inferiority complex. Max continued to gaze directly at her, gingerly, tenderly wiping off the scattered makeup. His touch lingering a second too long for a cool, calculated gesture.

He slowly eased his hand away, wiped it on his pants and offered it to Liz. Without ever looking up she reluctantly took the gesture and allowed him to pick her up.

Liz stared in horror as she saw how high her skirt had ridden up. Max on the other hand did not miss the free peepshow. He bit his lip as Liz nervously smoothed down her skirt, an effervescent pink coloring her cheeks.

“Let’s go get your friends and get out of here,” said Max reassuringly, thinking it best not to mention Pam’s party.

“Ok” said Liz, never looking up. But Max couldn’t tear his eyes away, and kept Liz glued to his peripheral vision as they found their way back through the maze of hallways and doors to find Maria, Tess, and Isabel.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Holy Freaking Mother of Our Lord Jesus!” screamed Maria as Liz and Max walked through the door into the lobby waiting area of the salon.

Maria, Isabel, and Tess had finished their day of voluptuous spa treatments and had come out refreshed, only to find their shoulders once again knotting after failing to catch hide nor hair of Liz or Max after fifteen minutes. The girls had droned and chit-chatted idly for a while, but as time slowly trickled past they became agitated. But when Liz entered through the door, all idle conversations and agitated boredom quickly dissipated.

“Holy shit on a stick, Liz is that you?” queried Isabel.

“Ho…”

Tess was about to begin another “Holy something” comment when Max quickly cut her off. He could feel Liz perceptibly tighten up next to him, and her painted pout tense into a straight line. Feeling his chivalrous instincts kick in, Max took the macho route, using his words as a steel shield to protect against the barbs of Liz’s comrade-in-arms.

“Doesn’t Liz look great guys?” said Max with dramatic flare, overemphasizing the great part and throwing a sympathetic look to the girls to follow suit.

“Well…” stated Tess obviously missing the big cue.

“Well…yah she does,” finished Isabel flatly. But inside she was steaming. Sure Liz was wearing fifty pounds of makeup and had some goop in her hair. Was she going to think she was some sort of big shot on campus now? Would anyone even care? Why the hell did she sell out on all her friends? Too many questions were staring her in the face, hanging in the open. Isabel was deeply disconcerted.

“God why can’t you all just be happy for her and get over your petty little jealousies? She’s hot and you’re not. Kind of bumming you out?” Max’s temper once again got the better of him as he jumped into defend Liz.

“Yah right!” screamed Tess. Isabel, Tess and Maria joined in the screaming match, but it was to no avail. Liz had not said anything, and yet her friends couldn’t look at her without wincing.

“Come on guys, let’s go,” Liz finally spoke up. Max grabbed his keys and the group, decidedly less happy than upon their arrival, left the salon.

The group sat in uneasy silence the entire way back to Roswell. Tess, Maria, and Isabel were dropped off one by one, and finally only Max and Liz were left in the car.

Max pulled out from Isabel’s driveway and pulled on the gear shift while turning to face Liz.

“Thanks for today Liz. I had fun and I hope you did, too. But there’s one more thing.”

Liz, still reeling from her incredible eerily dreamy feeling just nodded.

“So are you coming with me to Pam’s party tonight?”

“I don’t think so. That stuff’s not for me. Besides I know you don’t want to go with me, and Pam despises me anyhow. I told you before, I don’t want to go.”

“Liz...”

“Max…”

“I’ll love you forever,” pleaded Max with a dopey grin on his face. Liz couldn’t help but smile, but she held out.

“Max, that’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. I already told you there’s no way in hell you’re tricking me into going to Pam’s party. You’ve already tricked me into this whole ‘makeover’ thing today and I’m not falling for anymore of your cheap tricks.”

“Liz, fine. You don’t even have to wear any of the new outfits or your hair down or even the contacts! Go however you want just please, please, please come. Please Lizzie.”

“Lizzie? Since when do you call me Lizzie?” joked Liz.

“Please oh please Lizzie?”

“Max…I don’t know.”

“Come on!”

“Okay, okay. But if it sucks I’m leaving.”

“Yay Lizzie!” cried Max, grinning from ear to ear and moving his hand from the gear stick to brush a stray piece of hair from Liz’s face behind her ear. Liz flinched back at the gesture, as though stung. She felt a spark, and it frightened her. She was a little uncomfortable with Max’s sudden display of affection, and the sincerity she felt underlying it. Unfortunately, Max took her flinch the wrong way. He immediately straightened back up, berating himself for moving too fast. What the hell had possessed him to touch her like that? He’d have to be more careful next time. Pushing back his emotions he clasped his hand tightly on the gear stick, turned up the music, and drove Liz the rest of the way home in silence.

Liz jumped out the second Max reached the back alley of the Crashdown, and scampered off before he even had time to say bye. She waved as she ran.

“Meet you at eight!” cried Max, before Liz’s brown hair flooded inside the door and disappeared into the abyss of the Crashdown.

Sighing, Max hit the accelerator, thoughts rushing through his head on Liz’s grand entrance at the party tonight. He had to get home and give Michael a call…

TBC

posted on 17-Nov-2002 2:45:33 AM by senoritaspoiler
**Pam’s Party**

Copious Feedback required!!!!!!!!!

Love Senorita

Liz stood staring at herself in front of her full length mirror. Behind her sunken into her comfy old bed were the bags of make-up, contacts, hair products, and boxes and boxes of designer clothes she had been sent home with from the salon.

It was 5 and Max would be here in only three hours. Liz was trudging through so much inner turmoil she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Any second she was sure she would implode from all the thoughts whizzing through her brain every which way at any given second. But they all revolved around the fact that she was alone.

Alone. Liz was alone. She had never been pretty, never popular, never the best at anything. But she had always had friends. Tess, Maria, Isabel…through thick and thin they were her rock, her soul, her heart beating within four bodies, pumping her lifeblood and sustaining her through her mother’s subsequent boyfriends and the emptiness inside. Without them she was nothing. Liz looked blankly at the mirror, seeing right through herself. The colors swirling across her face and the tight skirt did nothing to hide the ugliness Liz saw inside.

And then a tear fell. And she couldn’t make it stop. Sobbing Liz crumpled to the floor, feral impulses flooding through her like a wolf torn from the pack. The heavy bag flung into the mirror, crashing it into thousands of tiny pieces. The glass bore into Liz’s skin, but the pain in no way could parallel Liz’s own self loathing.

Max had ruined her life. He had taken everything pure and good from her, any happiness she felt while with him was overshadowed by his destructive actions. Tonight she would have to find out Maxwell Evan’s true motives, beat him down until he told her the truth, Horrorsome foursome and possible friendship to hell.

The sizable shred of glass that had landed beside Liz stared back at her. As a tear dripped onto the jagged glass, a scarily wicked smile could be seen staring into itself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max tightly clasped an expensive bouquet of white roses and baby’s breath behind his back, grinning from ear to ear. He was shaved, and looking ubiquitously sexy in an open striped polo with the sleeves rolled up to reveal buff, defined arms and tight dark jeans emphasizing his “ass-ets”, his dark hair spilling over his tanned forhead.

He rang the doorbell once, waited, and then rang it again. Liz’s mom opened the door, looking angry and disheveled. Her hair was haphazardly hung in curlers and no makeup covered her age hardened and thickly lined face. But a smile crept across her face at the sight of her daughter’s sexy suitor.

“Maxwell honey, so good to see you, what are you doing here?” she cooed, batting her eyelashes.

“Actually Mrs. Parker I’m here to pick up Liz if you don’t mind. Is she ready?”

“I don’t know Max; let me go check for you. Be a good boy and come right in and take a seat,” she winked.

Max settled into a thread bare easy chair and brought the flowers to lay on the coffee table. Idly he cracked his knuckles.

Minutes later Mrs. Parker bounded down the stairs, red lipstick freshly painted onto her thin lips and the curlers out of her hair. Her rope lay open a tad too conspicuously. Max put all his effort into not wincing.

“Hold on Max, I just talked to her and she said she would be right down. I’m going to go get ready so if I don’t see you two again, have fun, and don’t be late. And I’ll be here when you get back,” she winked again (does this woman have something in her eye thought Max.)

Just so slightly swaying her hips, Mrs. Parker sidled up the stairs, leaving Max to his own idle thoughts.

But he didn’t have to wait long. Seconds after Mrs. Parker made her way up the stairs, of course with a sideways glance back down to make sure Max had caught her forced “sexy” retreat, Liz made her way down the stairs.

First it was only a foot.

A foot clad in a high, sexy, strappy black sandal.

And then a leg.

A bare, tan shapely leg.

Two legs.

Thighs.

A tight, very short, very leather mini skirt.

A peek of tan, tiny waist.

A tiny, very sparkly, very conspicuous shirt.

By the time Liz made it all the way down the stairs, ever so slowly, Max was visibly salivating.

Liz pranced down the last stair, giving Max a moment to admire the view. Clad in high strappy sandals, a tiny black leather mini, a tiny black tank top with her dark hair piled messily on top of her head and tendrils cascading down. Her eyes shone in dark catty eye makeup and sheer red lipstick coated her lips.

“Hi Max” purred Liz.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max’s mouth hit the floor. Holy shit, he was having trouble keeping his wildly raging hormones under wraps. Was this the same Liz parker who hours ago was sullenly moping about not wanting to come to the party and awkward in a knee length skirt turtleneck and lip gloss?

The same Liz who just yesterday had been one of the dorkiest, most made fun of member of the Horrorsome Foursome quartet?

“Wow Liz, you look really great,” choked out Max.

“Thanks you, too, now let’s get this show on the road.” Liz turned and swept past Max, shaking her tiny leather clad ass as she strutted towards the door, shocked by her own boldness. But her friends were everything and if she was ever going to lose all of her dignity and every last thing she had, it would be in the name of her friends.

Max rushed past her, rubbing against her and opening the door. She smiled sweetly as he made a grand gesture of letting her out the door first.

“You want a coat, it might get cold...?”

“Nope, I’m fine.” She replied too quickly.

Max let Liz into his car and the two drove in awkward silence, Dishwalla blaring as they made the quick drive to Pams. Again, Roswell wasn’t a very big town.

Max parked a ways down the block from Pam’s awesome house, cars lining the streets on both sides all the way down. He opened the door for Liz and let her out, and the two walked, a foot apart from each other down the street.

Max knocked on the door and was instantly greeted by Alex.

“Hey man, whattttt-uppppp?” giggled an obviously intoxicated Alex.

“And who is that smoking hottie next to you. Nice score Maxwell,” added Sean coming up behind Alex.

“Give me a piece of that!” growled Michael, earning him a glare from Courtney.

“Alex, Sean, Michael, I think you already know her but I’d like you to meet the new and improved Liz Parker.”

Liz gave a slight smile.

“The pleasure is all mine senorita,” slurred Alex, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the house.

Max felt a pang of jealously, seeing Alex with his arms all over Liz, but he let it pass. She was nothing.

“So where is Pam and everyone?” asked Max grabbing a drink and walking over with Michael and Courtney into the huge foyer.

“Around here, somewhere with that frat boy of hers, Arson or something. Drunk as hell I’m sure. But have fun, get some ass, get drunk. Party like that party boy you are.”

Michael passed out.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max left Michael with Courtney hovered over hip moping, knowing he would be in good hands. He grabbed a second drink and wandered around looking for Liz. He made his way down the steps of the two story foyer until he saw her over in a corner talking to a group of jocks.

The green eyed monster flared its ugly head and Max quickly pushed through the throngs of people to get to Liz. When he got to her, though, she was in no immediate danger. The boys crowded around her, ogling her skimpy outfit and lavishing blatant attention onto her every word, staring her up and down and making not so subtle brushes against her scantily clad body.

“Hey Liz, over here,” said Max hoping to garner her attention. Liz politely excused herself from the jocks, and held her drink over her head as she made her way, not untouched, through the group of jocks over to Max.

Liz was already showing the effects of her meager alcohol consumption, obviously not a heavy weight. Max grabbed Liz by the hand and was going to lead her off to find a bedroom somewhere. Hey, Max was always one to know when to reap the advantages from a situation.

Liz trailed behind him, and they were almost up the stairs when Liz accidentally crashed into Jodie Lynn and Tamara. Not even noticing Liz at first, the two girls glared evilly at the girl apparently getting with Max-God tonight. Max quickly tried to the avert the blow up he knew would ensue if he stopped to chat, and yanked on Liz’s hand quickly apologizing and making it up to the landing. Almost there and Liz tripped falling into his arms. On reflex he caught her, breathing heavily. Her hair under his chin, smelled so sweet and fragrant, like fresh summer strawberries and heady vanilla. The silky brown tresses tickled his chin.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” squealed Liz, straightening herself up.

Max quickly relinquished his hold on her hand and led her through down a hall and through a door he knew led to Pam’s older sister’s room. Pam and him had fully utilized this room’s accouterments on more than one occasions.

Max pulled Liz into the room and the two fell onto each other on the bed, Liz spilling her drink and busting out into giggles. Her hair was falling all over and her dark eyes sparkled with drunkenness and mischief.

Max couldn’t believe how incredibly beautiful and sexy Liz Parker looked at that moment, and how bad he needed to kiss her. Her hot breath and the pumping up and down of her chest, the scattered hair, the mussed lips, that sexy outfit. Things had changed so fast, it was incredible.

Partly on behalf of the alcohol Max had already consumed, he let go of his inhibitions and pulled Liz to him.

Their lips touched for the first time and the sparkage was palpable. Liz responded instantly to his lips on hers and the two engaged in a super heated make-out session, tongues dueling, hands grasping and clawing through dark hair, lips sucking, hands roaming across leather and denim.

“Oh Max,” moaned Liz, pretty much gone by now.

Taking that as a sign to continue Max reached for the bottom of Liz’s shirt, using his skilled and practiced hands to pull it up and over her head in one fluid motion, removing his lips from hers for only mere seconds. With the shirt off their lips fused once again, clinging together heatedly and wildly passionate. Max moved his hands across Liz’s flat stomach up to her lacy bra. Liz moved back from Max, her eyes glazed and wide, her lips puffy, staring wildly she awkwardly attempted to pull Max’s shirt from the hot brown skin she needed to touch. Max finally grew frustrated and pulled it off for her. Liz trailed her fingers across his chest languidly, relishing the feel of his tight, defined muscles under her sensitive fingertips. Max pulled back and she touched his chest, the air rushing from his lungs at her hot, girlish touch.

The two continued making out and roaming each others bodies until Max reached for the hem of Liz’s skirt.

Liz scooted back, removing her private territory from his roaming hands.

“So Max, tell me, why did you really take an interest in me,”

“That doesn’t matter Liz, all that matters is now,” he said between deep, heaving breaths.

“No Max, I want to know, you can tell me.”

“Liz”

“Max”

Alcohol flooded through Max’s veins

“It was a bet Liz, but it was stupid, I swear, I like you, come on,” groaned Max, moving his fingers back towards Liz’s skirt.

But as if a spell had been broken Liz immediately backed up and got up from the bed. She smoothed out her hair, picked up her shirt and put it back on, and straightened her skirt.

“Sorry Max, Just kidding. You asshole. I was a bet, and because of your stupid male ego or whatever I lost the most important things in my life, my friends you arrogant fuck. Go prey on some other one of your stupid sluts, you’re never going to get me. So long Maxxie.” Stated Liz calmly, in her boldest statement ever. Hell to consequences, she was getting back her friends.

Liz turned and walked out the door, down the stairs, out of Pam’s house and started the good walk back home.

Max lay dazed on Pam’s sister’s bed. His world was crumbling before him. The alcohol immediately rushed from his system. HOLY SHIT was the only thought remaining in his befuddled brain.

TBC…









[ edited 1 time(s), last at 17-Nov-2002 3:46:16 AM ]
posted on 3-Jan-2003 4:38:38 PM by senoritaspoiler
Bumping myself (sorry preparing for an update and the searcher wasn't working so I didn't want to lose it again ;))
posted on 11-Jan-2003 12:09:49 AM by senoritaspoiler
Part 7

It only took a block before the tears knocked on the doors to her soul. The hot liquid seeped from her eyes, smearing her artfully applied make-up hiding the ugliness she felt inside. For the millionth time since she met him, Max was ruining her life, crumbling the pitiful, but here-to-for hardy walls she built around herself.

She sobbed the entire way home, and noticing the lights still on in the family room she walked silently behind the house. Ripping off her expensive heels in rage, Liz tore at the delicate ribbons, wanting them off her as fast as possible. She chucked them into the bushes, without remorse.

Liz grabbed a clip from her hair and turned to scrape at the side of her skirt. Once she’d made a little leverage she put both hands on either side of the scuff mark and pulled, making a nice long rip in the short skirt and enabling her to ascend the object in front of her.

One foot, then two, Liz relived her childhood, the fairy princess making her way up the tower and out of harm’s way to be rescued by her fairy prince. But there was no fairy prince, and no one would be there when she got to the top of the staircase and into her room.

The room was dark and still, as it should be. Liz quietly pulled up the window and slid through nimbly. Without turning on the lights Liz ripped off her skirt and shirt, uncharacteristically tossing them onto her bed.

Not bothering to put on her comfy sweats, Liz trod to her bathroom, furiously pressing the toothpaste to the brush and scraping at her teeth. She used a bar of soap rubbing at the makeup covering her face until no remnants of colorful face paint could be distinguished. She ran cool water over her face and hung her towel. Still in bra and panties she used the last bit of energy to turn off the bathroom lights and sink into her bed.

But as she fell, she didn’t hit the soft warmth of her comforter as she had expected.

“Ouch,” said a disgruntled voice Liz knew all too well.

Liz froze, jumping as though touched with fire and running to grab the light switch. As light flooded her small room, Max Evan’s features came into view.

“Wooohoo,” whistled Max, conspicuously appraising the view.

In typical Liz fashion she kept calm, in a nimble swoop picking an oversized sweatshirt from the floor and covering her near naked body.

“What the fuck are you doing in my room!” she hissed, venom seeping into her words.

“Liz, we need to talk…”

“There will be no talking you stupid asshole get out of my room this instant before my mom comes up here and God…”

Max came up behind Liz and put his hand over her mouth. She bit him.

“Ow, you…”

“Don’t even say it.”

“God that hurt.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, what ever shall I do,” swooned Liz with a heaping of sarcasm on the side.

“Here let me get naked too. That way you won’t be so embarrassed and maybe we can do some talking.”

“Max, if you so much as take off one article of clothing I will beat you up.”

“Oh, I’m scared now,” said Max pulling his shirt over his head for Liz the second time that night.

Liz gritted her teeth, biting her lip so hard she could taste blood.

Max began to skillfully undo his belt buckle and undo his pants. He pulled them down, one foot then the other until he was left in only his black silk boxers, his black socks, and his dopey grin.

“Max put your pants on!” hissed Liz.

“Are you sure that’s what you want, Liz?” asked Max impishly.

“Max. Why are you doing this to me? Can’t you see how much pain you’ve already caused me? How every minute with you I hurt more and more deep down inside. You ruin me. You take all that is good and pure and squash it like all of your other problems. You talk your way around it, throw some money, sport that stupid shit-eating half grin of yours, that is so not sexy by the way, and just are a basic all around asshole.”

“You tormented me for a bet. You took my friends. They are my everything, don’t you see? You mean nothing to me, and I know I mean nothing to you. So please, please just leave me alone… I beg you.”

Tears began to cascade from Liz again. God, she mentally berated herself for acting like the Joey Potter of Roswell High, unable to ever stop a wayward tear.
Max tenderly made his way to her, enveloping her in his hug.

“Shh, it’s alright. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

His bare skin touched her and she flinched.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

She saw his shocked expression, his half nakedness, and the way his hair nearly stuck up vertically.

Liz couldn’t help but burst out laughing. No matter how far Max put the dagger into her heart and twisted, she could never be mad at him for long.

“I’m sorry, Liz! Don’t you see? Give me a chance!”

“I’ve given you way too many chances Max, you’re done. You lose your stupid bet. I’m so sorry.”

Then there was a knock at the door.

“Liz, honey, are you ok in there. I told you before not to do gymnastics in your room. You might hurt yourself.”

Max barely stifled a guffaw, Liz glared at him.

“Mom, I’m just doing a little work out, I promise no gymnastics. Sorry about the noise, I’ll stop.”

At that Max started making fists and doing his best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression, and Liz swatted at him furiously.

“Honey?”

“Please mom, I’m fine just leave me alone. I’m tired and want to finish doing some sit-ups and just go to bed…Please mom.”

“Alright, if you say so. If you need anything I’m just down the hall, and really Liz, next time don’t do your exercises so late at night.”

“Alright mom, love you, goodnight.”

“Goodnight Lizzie Bear.” Liz stood silently, breathing hard with Max’s breaths heaving in and out next to her until she finally heard her mother take a few tentative footsteps.

Max once again had to painfully stifle the guffaw brewing in his chest, and almost blew it when Liz cracked him fiercely in the ribs.

“Ow!” he hissed, keeping his voice down.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, do you know how much trouble I could have just gotten in? God you just are set on ruining my life aren’t you?”

“Lizzie Bear,” mocked Max, “you know it’s not like that…”
“Then what is it like Max, explain it to me…and put your god damn clothes back on, please,” said Liz turning her face away from his beautiful chest in embarrassment.

“You know I didn’t really see anything just then, you know, so…um…you don’t have to feel embarrassed or anything,” said Max coyly.

“Whatever I don’t care,” said Liz turning back around and placing her hands crossed across her chest, staring Max down until he reluctantly slipped his pants and shirt back on.

After finishing buckling his pants Max crumpled into Liz’s bed, drowning in the softness and the smell of Liz, stretching his arms to absorb himself in the luxurious comfort.

“Get the fuck off my bed!” Screamed Liz, seeing him snuggle up in her most sacred space.

“Woah there horsey!” chuckled Max as he popped up and began pacing the room.

“How can you sit here, lying in my bed, be even in my presence knowing what you did to me?” cried Liz in frustration. “You just admitted I was a bet Max, whatever the bet was I was a bet. You used me. I should have never believed you with all your sweet talk and suavity, and deep down I knew it was all a façade but you pulled me to you. You and your damn cocky smile and charisma almost had me believe you. Then you try and get me drunk and next thing I know I’m half naked in an upstairs bedroom! What was going to happen after tonight Max? Would you go brag to your friends, go laugh with your friends, what? Can you even imagine how degraded I feel. My friends hate me, I’m some sort of stupid bet or joke or whatever, and you’ve stripped every last shred of dignity from my cold, dead body…”

Max stood there, silently, staring at Liz’s perfect facial features while she vented her frustrations in a controlled burst of hysteria. The words were too painful, each and everyone was true and he knew that right now he should be laughing with his friends, and would be too if not for Liz and her stupid cuteness and the way that sweatshirt was so big on her small frame and ended right above her knees, and the way her hair was everywhere and still gorgeous…

Max couldn’t help himself, grabbing Liz by the arm he pulled her towards him and pressed his lips to hers in an animalistic gesture.

Max pulled away slowly, still holding on to Liz.

She stared at him in awe, dumbstruck over what he had just done.

Max smiled, complaisant at the fact that she had finally shut up.

“Ow!” hissed Max as Liz’s hand went smacking against his cheek. In reflex Max pressed his own hand to the stinging on his cheek, walking over to the mirror on the side of Liz’s room and noticing the bright red, clearly defined handprint imprinted over his cheek.

“What was that for?” moaned Max.

“You Bastard! What do you think it was for! Get the hell out, now. Or I’ll call the cops!” Liz began to sob.

“Get out! Get out! GET OUT!” she screamed in a voice as low as she possibly could with the emotion flooding through her.

Max turned to her, and the anger and hurt in her eyes penetrated his soul. All jokes aside, her voice impaled him, and he walked hurriedly towards the window, opening and slipping out into the night while Liz continued to scream after him.

Liz barely had time to slip under the covers before her mother came barreling towards her room.

“Liz! Liz! What’s wrong?” she screamed, flinging open the door.

Liz pushed back the tears as she answered her mother, “Nothing, just a bad dream, I’m fine. Please go back to bed mom, please.”

Nancy looked at her daughter, and seeing the blank stare in her eyes decided to leave her alone.

“Alright honey, but remember…”

“Yes, mother.”

“Alright, but…”

“Mom, please.”

“Alright, love you honey.”

“Love you mom, goodnight.”

Nancy gently shut the door and made her way back to her room, not knowing how naïve she should act and not totally sure of what had just transpired, though she knew enough to lay off the questions, for the time being.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liz shut her eyes and the hot tears could not be contained. They slipped through the cracks and irrigated her face in fat rivulets. She lay, sobbing, confused and angry and degraded and unsure and frustrated.

Everything Max had done to her, and still that cocky sideways grin stuck out in her mind.

Liz had feelings for Max Evans, and that’s what angered her most of all.

TBC…