| �Buzz off, Valenti.� Kyle Valenti, sporting a manly black eye, was the school's top jock. He used to date Liz Parker, until she figured out with her scientific mind that he just wasn�t good enough. Liz had bigger fish to catch-fish like Max Evans. And that left Kyle all pathetic, because he really had to get Liz back for the sake of his pride. And he would do anything to get his girlfriend back. Kyle walked faster, catching up with Michael. �I know we haven�t been friends for a long time, Guerin-� �We�ve never been friends,� Michael broke in. �Right. Now that hurts me, Mike. It really does.� Kyle shook his head. �I remember we used to play together a lot when we were kids.� �That�s because the Sheriff always brought Hank in to jail and he had no choice but pull me along rather than leave me in a deserted trailer. And you happened to be lonely when he hauled you with him to work after your mom left.� �Yeah well, at least we were playmates.� �What do you want, Valenti?� Kyle smirked. �Well I just want to apologize. You know, for staring at your girlfriend. I was totally out of line.� Michael brow rose. �And I wanted to congratulate you.� �What are you talking about now?� Michael asked, irritated. He was really wasting his time. He rushed through all those chores to get back here in time to pick up Maria from her last class. Now Kyle babbling would make him late. Since Maria didn�t know he was coming, she might leave already. �Just that it�s nice how you�ve changed you know. Softer even. It�s really cool, man. You�ve really turned into one of those sensitive guys. It�s� heartwarming to see.� Michael was too stunned to respond. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. �Anyway I wanted you to know how much your change moved me. You were so badass and against the world. We never thought you�d be the kind to go steady and stay loyal to a girl. Tough, man, but sweet.� Kyle�s lip curled with every word. He clapped Michael on the shoulder and strode away. Michael stood there in the corridor. A crowd of guys grinned at him from a few feet away, and something inside him rebelled. These people heard Kyle, and were thinking that he was� No! He was Michael Guerin. MICHAEL GUERIN D-AMMIT! �Hey.� Michael whirled around and saw Liz standing there, smiling up at him. She took a deep breath, deeper than she needed to actually. Michael�s eyes fell to her chest. They weren�t exactly considerable in size, but her exaggerated movements made them swell a little. �Liz.� Her bright smile blinded him. �I know you�re here looking for Maria. I mean, you two are inseparable it�s so sweet.� Michael could hear her words echoing in his ears, and he reddened. The entire corridor heard her. Liz bit her bottom lip softly, the way Maria did hers. �She�s-� That was it. He can�t let this happen. Roughly he pulled Liz to him by the arms and pushed his lips on hers. Her lips were soft and yielding, but she just lacked it. This was not Maria. His mouth refused the taste of her lipstick. Her tongue peeked to excite him. When it didn�t work, Liz suddenly started pounding on his chest, pushing him away. �How could you!� Michael�s eyes glittered down on her. He couldn�t understand what caused the abrupt turnabout. �You�re psycho, Michael. You don�t deserve my best friend. How could you kiss me like that when she�s standing right there!!� Michael whirled around in time to see Maria shake her head and run away. His heart screamed at him to run after her, but dozens of eyes were on him, figuring out what he was going to do. Even though his heart bled, he forced himself to shake his head and chuckle, �Girls.� He would make it up to her. Tonight he would climb through her window and apologize. She would understand. She understood him. That was why he liked her so much. She was the only one who could understand. Maria had to know that he could not let the public believe all those things Kyle had said. She just had to. Liz walked away from Michael. At the end of the corridor, an arm snaked out and pulled her to him. �Well done,� Liz murmured. �So you�ll come to the game on Friday?� She nodded. �And I�ll cheer you on, Kyle. I�ll give a performance as good as the one you gave today, and you�ll get your pride back.� �Good.� He leaned in for a kiss, but Liz held him off. �Please! I�ve just been kissed by Michael Guerin. Let�s leave his feel there for a while. No matter how much my skin crawls at the prospect of trailer trash's saliva on my mouth, I'll relish it. It�ll remind me of how high I am getting one over Maria.� ~~ She couldn�t breathe. She didn�t know if she even wanted to. Maria ran through the halls until she reached a dead end. And then she leaned back against the wall and slid down to the floor. Maria drew her knees to her chest and sobbed into her hands. She loved him. She knew what he was like, but she took the risk and gave him everything she had. And these past weeks, she really thought he�d changed. But she should have known that people like Michael just wouldn�t change. No matter what, no matter how much of yourself you gave. She didn�t know how long she had been crying. It seemed like hours, but it could not have been longer than several minutes. Someone sat beside her through her heaving. She turned her head to face the person. �What are you doing just sitting there?� �I was waiting for you to finish crying.� �A lot of use you are,� Maria retorted. �You didn�t even comfort me.� Max smiled. �And tell you everything�s gonna be all right?� Maria nodded. �That�s officially what comforting entails.� �Your mini�s riding up and giving me a lovely view of your thigh,� Max told her. �And why should I say that when I don�t even know what�s bothering you?� Maria couldn�t help but be amused by the weird look Max was giving her clothes. �Then why are you even here, Max, aside from ogling me? You�re not going to be of any help.� �Ah but that�s where you�re wrong. I�ve been sitting here waiting for you to calm down because I happen to have at my house the best thing for whatever crisis you�ve come across.� �Really?� �Yep!� Max stood and helped her up. �Do you have your car?� She shook her head. �My mom has it. Mi-I walked here.� �Well you�re in for a treat. I�ve got a first class jeep.� Maria was curious. She knew Max had a crush on her now. She had been pining for Max Evans for so long. For the moment, she pushed her grief aside. �And what miracle do you have at your house, Mr. Evans, that you actually think I�m going home with you?� �Miracles, Maria, miracles. I�ve got Isabel Evans, and more importantly, Ben and Jerry�s. I figured since I�m not equipped with the estrogen to get through whatever it is that�s got you crying at the haunted corridor, I�ll take you to the Evans that�s got the right hormones.� Her jaw dropped. Max Evans was a gift from heaven! ~~ A couple of weeks later saw Maria sitting on Isabel's bed. After class, she usually stayed over at Isabel's bedroom. Her hangout used to be the Crashdown, but because of the circumstances leading to her break up, she thought it best to stay away from there for a while. �Isabel, will you let it go?� Maria snapped. �You are getting on my nerves!� �Woohoo!� Isabel laughed out loud and fell on her bed. The photograph she had been holding up fell on the floor. Maria shook her head and picked it up. She looked down at it fondly. It was a candid shot taken at the school ground. It showed Maria reading the required book for English under their favorite tree. But more importantly, it showed Max standing a few feet away, looking at her with longing. �Isabel, get off our case.� �Max has the absolute hots for you. And I�m your girlfriend. I know your deepest secrets. And I know you�ve been wanting to hook up with Max for the longest time!� Maria shook her head. �Iz, your mom can barely stand my presence here.� For the first time Isabel sobered. �That�s insane. We have sleepovers and girls� nights here all the time!� �Your mom is tolerating my presence here because we�re girlfriends. And she thinks we�re going to get over it when we go to college or something. But I assure you, Isabel, she will have a heart attack when Max starts seeing someone like me!� The knock on the door startled them both. Isabel got up to answer the door. �Speak of the devil. What�s up? This is girls� night, Max. You can�t come in.� �Iz!� Maria protested. She hurried to the door and grinned at Max. They�ve been good friends since the corridor incident. In fact, they have been more than that deep inside. The tension between them was soaring, and because of Maria�s reluctance to pursue a real relationship, the attraction was getting stronger. �You needed anything, Max?� �Yeah,� he replied, meeting Isabel�s eyes. He turned back to Maria. �I�ve had it with this.� �What?� She was afraid that he didn�t want to be friends with her anymore. �Could we go somewhere private?� �I think anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of your sister,� Maria replied. �Besides,� she continued tightly, �I might need her for this.� Max frowned, not seeing why she would ask for Isabel�s presence. �Okay. Maria, we�re stupid if we think we can go on with this. I�m very attracted to you. And I can sense that you feel something for me too. We can�t continue to act like we�re just friends anymore. I want you to go out with me.� �We go out, Max,� she whispered. �On a date,� he clarified. �An official date.� �We-we can�t.� �Why not?� �We�re not suited. You�re� you�re Max Evans and me� I�m just Maria,� she said lamely. �You�re not just Maria. You�re Maria.� Max took her hand in his, and Maria squealed when he tugged her to him. He bent and caught her lips with his. �Please, give us a chance.� Maria was caught in the sensation. His kiss was so different from Michael�s. Where Michael�s were hot and passionate, Max�s was gentle and tender. He treated her lips as though they would shatter if he pressed too hard. It wasn�t unpleasant at all. It was enjoyable, and moments of continued teasing led the kiss to be somewhat erotic. �OH! EWWW! EEWW! EWWW!!!� They pulled away from each other to see Isabel white-faced and making gagging noises. Maria smiled and turned back to Max. �When?� Max�s face lit up. �Tonight!� he answered eagerly. �Then I�m going to need Isabel after all. Iz, I need to borrow a nice dress. Please?� �I�ll see you in twenty?� Maria nodded, and Max left the room happily. Isabel drew out a short white dress and gave it to Maria. �I haven�t worn it yet. And that will be perfect for your first date.� �Thanks, Izzy! Now you�re the lifesaver.� �Maria,� Isabel called before Maria vanished into the bathroom. �Yeah?� �I�m really glad you�re dating my brother. And don�t worry about mom. She�ll love you. I know it. Who can�t help loving you?� TBC |
| Part 3 |
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