| �Good. You�ll get it then. Now how much is it going to cost?� Tess asked as she looked at the price tag. �Oh my�that�s a lot of money.� She stood at disbelief at how much the necklace was. �How much Tess?� Max asked her. �$698. Are you sure you have that kind of money?� Tess asked him. He gasped at the expense. Sure he had the money, but he�d worked so hard for every dollar he�d earned. Did he want to spend $700 on just ONE necklace? But Liz meant the world to him and he was determined to get her back. So he agreed. �Yeah, I can afford it no problem.� He said and then went to get a person to take out the necklace for him. �That�ll be $711 please.� The teller said. Max handed his credit cared over to the teller and watched as it got swiped. There went $700 just like that. But when he took hold of the necklace, he knew he�d done the right thing. �Come on Tess. Let�s go.� Max led her out, satisfied that he�d gotten what he�d come for. ~*~ Next day, right after school ~*~ Max was walking slowly towards the tree where he�d asked Liz to meet him. He could see her in the distance leaning against the tree. He couldn�t stop thinking about what Isabel had said a couple of days ago. About how he was hurting Tess. He had never really though much about what Tess thought. All he thought was that she was willing to help him do what ever to get to Liz. But when he really thought back, he couldn�t ever remember any time when he had ever asked Tess how she felt about helping him out. He stopped dead in his tracks when the realization hit him. He thought back to when they went shopping for flowers that one Friday afternoon. When Tess had seen those beautiful Lady Slippers, her eyes popped and her mouth was wide opened. When Max had asked her what was wrong, she�d told him that the Lady Slippers were the most beautiful flowers she�d ever seen. He�d taken a closer look at them and decided to get them for Liz. She never said anything. The whole evening, she was quiet. Max couldn�t figure it out. But now he knew. She was heart broken when he�d gotten HER favorite flowers for someone else. Her enemy. �Isabel was right.� Max thought to himself. �I�ve broken her heart over and over.� He felt awful for what he�d done. He looked at Liz, who was still under the tree. She looked back and smiled. He gave her a weak smile and then turned around. He�d finally realized that it wasn�t Liz that he wanted. It was the love that she had given him. The feeling that she needed him. He knew that Liz didn�t need him anymore. No. She didn�t need him. But Tess did. Max walked up to front door and rang the doorbell. He knew the guys weren�t home because they were at a football game. Tess answered the door and when she opened it, she was surprised to see Max. �Max. What are you doing here?� Tess asked a little stunned. �May I come in?� Max asked. Tess nodded and opened the door wider. Max walked in and they both sat down on the couch. He handed her a large bouquet of Lady Slippers and she thanked him and gave him a big hug. �I knew they were your favorite.� �I love them! Thank you so much!� Tess exclaimed. �Tess, I was really wrong. I�m so sorry about everything I�ve put you through. I was a big jerk for not realizing it and I want to apologize.� �Max, what are you talking about?� Tess asked. �I�m talking about the past month. All that torture I put you through, talking about Liz and how bad I wanted her back. I was so stupid. I never meant to hurt you. Please Tess, forgive me.� Max was feeling so embarrassed by now. Tess gently put her hand on his. �Max, the reason I helped you out is because I love you. I can�t deny that. Now I admit that it wasn�t that nice listening to you go goopy eyed over Liz. But I listened to you because I knew that you needed someone to confide in. I just wanted to be that someone.� Tess told him. Max squeezed Tess� hand. �You amaze me Tess Harding. Time and time again I look at you and am in awe of what you�re capable of. I look into your eyes and I see someone else. I see the girl of my dreams, my wife. I may not be able to remember you physically in our past life, but I DO remember you emotionally. Every time I�m around you, my heart starts racing. The sweat comes out faster and my muscles cramp up. I tried to deny it, but I can�t anymore. I�m in love with you Tess. You�re my lover, my life.� He gave pulled out his hand and handed her over a small box. She knew what it was and shook her head. �No Max. This is for Liz.� She refused. �When I bought it, I was only thinking of my true love. That�s you. Please. Take it. It�s my love for you.� Max held her so close, he could taste the succulent aroma coming from her luscious skin. Tess pushed herself closer, encasing her lips with his. He groaned with pleasure. �I�ve wanted you so bad, so long.� They embraced each other, kissing passionately. Finally, they were together. |
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