'Tis The Season

Fudge and Mistletoe and Elves, Oh My!
"Hey Liz," Max said as he slipped in beside her in the school halls.

"Hey Max," Liz replied, smiling.

Her smile made Max feel giddy. She was so perfect. He didn't know what he ever did to deserve her.

"When are you leaving?" she asked.

"First thing tomorrow morning," he told her.

"So soon?" Liz asked, surprised. "I didn't realize you were leaving so soon."

"It was the only flight available."

"When will you get back?" Liz asked, shifting her books so that she could carry them more comfortably.

Max swung his backpack onto his other shoulder. "The day before school starts."

Liz stopped in surprised. The person behind her had to move quickly in order to avoid running into her. "You aren't going to be around at all during the holidays?"

"Well, we haven't seen our grandparents for nearly four years, so my parents thought it would be a good idea if we went for a long visit."

The Evanses were going to Buffalo for the Christmas holidays, to visit their family. Phillip Evans had grown up there, moving to New Mexico for College. When he met his future wife, who was from Roswell, and they got married, he stayed there. The rest of his family, however, was still living in New York, so they weren't able to see each other often.

"Which reminds me," Max said, pulling his back off his back and reaching into it. "Well, actually, it doesn't remind me, but I suddenly remembered, so I thought I'd bring it up."

A grin broke out of Liz's face. "Max, you're babbling."

"Yes," Max said, still searching his backpack. "I am, aren't I."

Liz nodded.

"Anyways," continued Max, "I have something for you. I hope you like it."

"Oh, Max, you shouldn't have," Liz said as he finally pulled out a long, thin present out of his bag. It was wrapped in green metallic paper with a perfect looking bow on top.

Liz had a curious expression on her face. Max wondered if it was because she was curious about what the present was, or if she wanted to know how he managed to keep the present looking almost perfect after it had been laying in the bottom of his backpack all day.

Unwrapping the present, Liz gasped when she saw what was inside. It was a delicate sterling silver necklace. "It's beautiful," she breathed, pecking him on the cheek.

She turned her head and dug into her own bag, missing, much to his relief, Max's blush. "I have something for you, too," she said, not looking up.

The bell rang. "I'll give it to you in class," she said. "C'mon."

They ran to class and slipped into their seats just as their teacher started to speak. She glared at them and the rest of the class, who had also arrived after the bell.

"Quiet down, class," she said. "Now, I know it's the last day before Christmas holidays, but, and this may come as a surprise to some of you, it is still a school day. Since it is a school day, we will work today." As one the class groaned. A low mutter was heard around the room.

Ms Hardy glared until they settled down again. "We will be doing a lab today. One person for each group can come up and get the papers. You have a choice, now. You can either make toffee or fudge."

Hearing this the entire class, most of whom had fallen asleep, perked up. Although judging be the murmurs and the surprised expression on everyone's faces, everyone was wondering if they heard wrong, only one person dared to ask, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Ms Hardy said, smiling, "Today we are going to make candy."

"Isn't this a biology class?" one of the people in the back row asked. His partner shushed him.

"It's the last day before Christmas holidays. Do you want to be doing real work?"

Most people shook their heads, some said "no" aloud.

"Okay, it's settled then. Come get the sheets and we'll get started."

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

"What," Isabel said, clearly pronouncing and emphasizing every word, "is that?"

Max and Liz looked down at their . . . masterpiece. "Fudge," Liz chuckled.

Isabel raised an eyebrow at the so-called fudge. "It looks disgusting, " she said. "Isn't fudge supposed to be hard?" The giggling girl nodded. "That looks more like soup than fudge."

"Don't look at me," Max said, containing his mirth only a tiny bit better than his lab partner. "I wanted to make toffee."

Liz stopped laughing and grew deadly serious. "It didn't turn out well," she said, managing to keep a straight face the entire time.

She snuck a look at Max and lost all control. They both burst out in laughter again.

Isabel sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes towards the heavens.

"Fine," she snapped before storming off towards the cafeteria.

Liz immediately sobered up. "she isn't upset, is she?" Liz asked anxiously.

Max smiled indulgently. "No, she's fine. She's just being Isabel. C'mon, let's get rid of this and get to the cafe." He pulled Liz towards the trash can.

Liz jerked her arm away. "We can't just throw this out," she said in mock horror.

Max looked at her, perplexed. "What else will we do with it?"

Liz smiled brightly. "Eat it."

"Oh, no." Max backed away, his eyes wide with terror, a horrified look on his face. "There's no way I'm eating that."

"You're right." Max sighed of relief. "It isn't solid enough to eat. We'll have to drink it."

"What?" Max exclaimed.

"C'mon," Liz begged. She raised the dish to her lips and took a sip. "It's good."

Max scrunched his face. "Isabel was right. That's disgusting," he said.

"Actually," Liz corrected. "It's surprisingly good. Very chocolately."

She had backed max up into a wall. There was no where for him to go, and they both knew it.

"Pwetty pwease," Liz asked, her bottom lip thrust out in a pout and her sad eyes looking at Max pitifully.

"Fine," Max sighed, resigned to his fate. He reached for the tray, then snatched it from Liz and threw it into the garbage can.

At least he threw the container into the garbage. The fudge, still being in a liquid stated, didn't stay in the tray.

Liz squealed as some of it landed on her face. The rest found a home all over the hall.

Max and Liz took one look at the mess, then ran as fast as they could.

"Look who's finally decided to join us," Isabel said dryly when Max and Liz arrived breathlessly at their table.

"What happened to you?" Maria asked, staring at the state of her friend in amazement.

"There was a little incident with some fudge."

"I don't want to know," Isabel said. Taking a quick look around to see if anyone was watching, she went up to Liz and cleaned her up.

"Thanks," Liz said smiling.

"So," Alex asked, "Are you guys all going to Tish's party tonight?"

"Mmm hmm," Isabel said, meaning yes.

Everyone else's answers were easier to decipher. Both Liz and Michael said "yes" out loud, and Max and Maria nodded.

Maria looked at her watch. "I have to get going!" she exclaimed.

"Why," Isabel asked, after consulting her own watch, "We've still another fifteen minutes before class starts."

"You'll see," Maria said mysteriously. "C'mon Liz." She pulled her best friend away from the table.

"I'm not finished," Liz protested in vain.

"You can finish later. Come on."

"Okay, that was weird. Do you know what it was about?" Isabel asked Alex.

"I haven't the faintest idea," he answered, shrugging his shoulders.

The four teens finished their lunches in silence. Ten minutes later they gathered their stuff and headed for class.

Mr. Minas, knowing his students, didn't even try to make them work. He had promised his class several weeks ago they could have a party.

He had told them to bring in music, snacks, and whatever else they wanted. The students had free-reign the entire period provided they obeyed all school rules. The only other restriction Mr. Minas had was that they couldn't be too loud. The reasoning behind this was that if another teacher complained about the noise level, the whole deal would be called off. Mr. Minas had informed them the day before he had prepared a lesson plan and a chapter of homework for over the holidays for that eventuality.

Evidently the threat was working, for when Michael, Max, Isabel and Alex entered the room, the music, although loud, could barely be heard out in the halls.

Liz and Maria weren't there yet. Geography was the only class all six of them had together. Isabel immediately separated from the group and went off to join her other friends. The boys stood off to one side talking and enjoying the music. The bell ran. Maria and Liz still weren't in class. Max was starting to get worried. He wondered where they were and what was taking them so long. Or, to be more truthful, Max was wondering about Liz.

It was another fifteen minutes before Alex and Michael also started looking around anxiously. Isabel wandered over. "Where're Liz and Maria?" she asked.

Max shook his head, bewildered. "I don't know."

Before he could add anything else, there was a commotion in the hall. The music was turned off and everyone rushed to the door to see what the matter was.

It was Santa. Well, Mr. Minas dressed up in a Santa suit. Max hadn't even noticed him leave. Mr. Minas wasn't alone. With him was Liz and Maria . . . dressed up in elf costumes. Max stared with his mouth hanging open at Liz, dumbstruck. Liz noticed his stare and blushed.

After making her way up to him, she whispered furiously, still blushing, "Maria made me."

Max grinned at her. "I think you look rather cute."

Actually he thought she looked very hot in it. The outfit was small and tight. It was in a shade of forest green that suited Liz's complexion perfectly, in Max's opinion. But then, he thought everything Liz wore suited her perfectly. Or maybe it was just because she herself was perfect.

Out of the corner of his eye, Max saw Michael staring longingly at Maria, who was wearing an outfit identical to Liz's except it was dark blue instead of green. Max suspected that Michael was seriously rethinking his current relationship status with Maria.

Liz reached into a bright red handbag at her side and pulled out a candy cane. She handed it over to Max. "I'm supposed to be giving these out," she said. "Merry Christmas."

Max took the candy cane. "Thanks," he said.

"I should probably give these out to other people, then" Liz said, shifting her weight to the other foot uncomfortably.

"You probably should," Max agreed.

"Okay, then," Liz said. Then she turned and started to distribute candy canes to the other kids.

Max walked over to Michael, who was still staring at Maria. "Maybe you should go talk to her," he suggested.

Michael started. "What?" he asked. "Talk to who?"

"Maria," Max said.

Michael avoided Max's gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about," he lied.

Max studied hi friend for another minute before dropping the subject. "Okay."

Liz and Maria finished handing out the candy canes. Then Santa and his elves left the classroom. The music was turned on again.

Isabel stared after the retreating group incredulously. "I can't believe they actually went through with that."

Max looked at his sister in shock. "You know about that?" he asked.

Isabel shrugged. "I knew Mr. Minas asked them to do that. I didn't know they'd agreed. Last I heard, Liz was swearing she would never do it. Wonder what made her change her mind."

"She said Maria made her," Max offered.

"That is the kind of thing Maria is into," Alex said.

Isabel just shook her head again. "I still can't believe it. I wouldn't be caught dead going around in an elf costume at school."

Maria and Liz entered the class twenty minutes later in their regular clothes to a round of applause and laughter. They both blushed and rushed over to Max and the others.

"It's the elves," Alex said.

"Shut up, Alex," Liz said. "Maria? You owe me big time."

"C'mon," Maria wheedled, her eyes twinkling. "You had fun."

"Well," Liz hesitated. "Maybe. But I will never do that again."

Maria said nothing, but rolled her eyes. It was obvious she didn't believe Liz's declaration. Neither, apparently did Alex, for he said in a stage whisper to Michael, "Ten bucks says Maria'll convince Liz to dress up again before the year's over."

Liz hit Alex in jest. "Oww," he said, holding his shoulder. "That hurt."

"You deserve it," Liz told him.

The bell rang suddenly and Liz looked up in surprise. "Class is over already?"

"But we missed the party!" Maria whined.

"Yeah," Michael smirked. "But you got to dress up as elves."

Maria ignored him, to the relief of Max. Ever since the party, they had been at each others throats more than usual, if that was possible. Michael, it seemed, had said something very stupid to Maria and hurt her. Max wasn't sure why. He knew Michael cared a great deal about Maria and, based on her reaction, Maria felt the same about him. He didn't know why they were torturing themselves like that.

Everyone grabbed their stuff and started to go. "Oh," Liz cried suddenly. "I forgot to give you your gift!"

"Max," Isabel called from down the hall impatiently, "Hurry up!"

"One sec, Izzy," he called back. "Well," Max said, turning back to Liz, "You're going to be at the party, right? Bring it there. Gotta go." With that he ran to catch up to his sister and they walked off to class together.