Title: Sweet Dreams
Part: 2
Author: Tecla
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: I don't own anything blah, blah, blah, you get the picture.
Summary: Maria is having strange dreams and Max has a secret.
Category: Unconventional - Max/Maria
Rating: PG

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Max sat at home, drawing. He had never been the artist one in the family but ever since Michael started to draw he had these fascinations with art. Surprise, surprise. Max had started to draw the outline of a face when Isabel walked into the kitchen.

"Looks good," she said glancing over his shoulder.

"Thanx," he said smiling. He held it up to the light and marveled over his three-line creation.

"Don't get too big-headed, there's still a lot of work to do," Isabel said as she walked out.

"Yeah, there is," he said, smiling to himself.

"Liz can you cover for me, pleeease," Maria whined is Liz's ear.

"Maria, not again, common, I've been covering for you every day this week."

"So far. I promise I'll make it up to you! Huh, what do you say?" Maria gave Liz a toothy smile and she sighed.

"Okay fine, so what is it this time?" she asked resting her elbows on the counter.

"Michael is taking me ice-skating," Maria said dreamily as she faced Liz on the other side.

"Really, that's a first," Liz said sarcastically.

"Yeah I know, but all-of-a-sudden he's become this incredible guy and I'm taking full advantage of it. So I'm going home to have a little cat nap before we go out."

"Have a good time," Liz said very depressed.

"What wrong? Max not romantic enough?" Maria said mockingly.

"Yes! Ever since he's started drawing, I can't get him away from those stupid pieces of paper. You know what he did the other day?"

"What?" Maria asked, knowing it couldn't be good.

"We went out to dinner and he takes out a pen and starts drawing on the napkin!"

"No!" Maria said, astonished.

"Yes!!" Liz cried so that all the costumers looked at her. She leaned in towards Maria and said in a low voice, "And what's worse is that he keeps drawing the same thing."

"What's that?"

"He draws this girl. The thing is every time he starts it again, the more beautiful it becomes," Liz said resting her head on her arms.

"Liz, I'm sure it's you," Maria said comfortingly.

"No it's not me! This girl is just too prefect, it can't be me," she sighed.

"Well, there's only one way you're gonna find out. Ask him."

"Fine I will," she said, smiling.

"Okay, gotta run, catch ya later!" she said as she ran out the door. It slammed shut and Liz got back to work.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Max sat on his bed, cautiously sipping his tea. He gazed at his picture that was resting against and pile of books and he smiled. He had completed it and it was prefect. There was nothing more I the world that he wanted to do more than sit and stare at his creation.

"This way you'll always be mine," he whispered into his cup. Just then there was a knock at the window. Max looked up and saw Michael. Automatically Max picked up a jersey and threw it over his picture, which was not facing Michael, so he couldn't see it. Then he got up and opened the window.

"What was that all about?" he said glancing at the picture.

"Nothing, just some dirty clothes that aren't really a nice sight, especially when I have visitors." Max said.

"Common, I practically live here," he smirked.

"Something you wanted to ask me?" Max said sitting back down on his bed.

"There's something really important that I have to do and well, I can't meet Maria for our date. And seeing that you're the sensitive one, I was hoping that you could cover for me, please," he said cocking his head to one side. Max didn't even have to think twice about that one.

"Yes, sure," he said quickly. "I mean, I'm not doing anything and we can't leave her all alone."

"Exactly what I was thinking. Just go over to her house and tell her I'm not gonna be able to make it."

"Sure."

"Thanx Maxwell. I owe you." He looked at Max once more and then climbed out the window. When he was out of sight, Max pulled the jersey off his picture.

"No Michael, I owe you."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I know all about you. Your hopes, your dreams, what you're feeling. Everything. But why won't you let me see you. Have I not made it clear? Have all the signs I've posted round your mind and your world been wrong? Do you not know I love you? More than any man could ever express. I drew you. A million times I put pencil to paper and created you, so I could have something to look at 24/7. But they all suck; cause nothing compares to you. No matter how exquisite, you are 'it'. You're the reason I get up in the morning. You give me a reason to carry myself the way I do. Michael could never give you what I can. Never. He doesn't know what you want and I do. So I'm asking you, for the very last time to love me. Maria...

"Maria, Maria!"

"What!" she said as she awakened from another one of her dreams.

"Maria, its' Max, you okay?"

"Max, oh my God, it's you," she said getting up from her bed.

"What are you doing here? In my bedroom!!" she shouted.

"Your mother let me in. I'm here to tell you that Michael can't make it today, for your date."

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry I shouted at you, I'm just a little, um cranky," she said, straightening the blanket on her bed.

"Maria, you're shaking are you-"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Can you excuse me a second," she said trying to force a smile.

"Sure," Max said politely.

Maria walked out of her room and into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

"This can't be happening. The star in my dream it wasn't Michael, it was, it was M-Max," she stammered. "He's in love with me. He's been drawing me. I'm the cause of Liz'sdepression and I don't know what to do," she said starting to cry. "No Maria. Be strong, and deal with this in the best possible way." She breathed in and out five times. She smoothed out her hair and checked her clothes. Then she went back to her bedroom to face Max.

As she walked inside she saw Max's back facing her. He was looking out the window and she opened her mouth but nothing came out. She tried again.

"Do you want a soda?" she blurted out. That was the complete opposite of what she really wanted to say. But she thought that confronting him in a more peaceful atmosphere (the kitchen) would be better.

"Sure," Max replied. The both went downstairs and Maria grabbed two sodas from the fridge.

"So Max, I wanna ask you about something," she said opening her soda.

"What?" he said already gulping his down.

"Well it's about these dreams I've been having," she started saying. Max stopped drinking and stared at her.

"What about them?" he said as he put his soda down, but his hand remained firmly on the can.

"Well, you kinda, um. You're in them. They're about you."

There was a huge silence and Max finally released his grasp from the can. As he pulled it back towards him it brushed up against Maria's hand and she felt a warm tingle go all the way up her arm. She shivered, but it felt really good.

"What's going on Max? Why am I feeling this way?" she said, her voice shaky.

"How are you feeling?" he said, intertwining his hand with hers.

"Drawn to you. In a huge way," she said. Maria stopped moving her hand and Max moved his up her arm.

"Max-"

"Shhhhh, don't speak. You don't know how long I've been thinking about this moment. These dreams you've been having, they're a sign, that we are meant for each other," he said filled with contentment.

"I don't know anymore, I'm really confused Max," she said leaning forward to hug him. She rested her head on his chest and he held her tightly.

"I'll always be here for you, no matter what I love you," he whispered in her ear.

"I don't know if I feel the same way. But I don't want you to hate me for that, it's just what does all this mean?" she started to cry and Max wiped the tears from her eyes.

"We will sort everything out all in good time, all in good time," he said rocking her back and forth in his arms. When she was in the bathroom, through all of her worry and confusion Maria couldn't help but think of Michael and how much she loved him. But there was something else about this whole Max thing. It wasn't just a crush; it was something deeper, longer. And when she thought about it, it made her scared cause she knew there were other forces at work here. Much more powerful ones. Except in that one moment, she felt so safe in his arms and all her worries about Michael, disappeared.

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