Authors Note: I don't own Saved By The Bell or any of it's characters. The characters belong to NBC and the writers of the show I have just borrowed them for my story. My story and the ideas in it belong to me. I also own my OC Melissa and some of the staff at The Max.(The rest of the staff will be named in a later chapter.) As far as I know Max was never given a last name nor was his age ever mentioned on the show. Virtual cookies will go to anyone who guesses what movie I got his last name from when I finally mention it. And since an age was never given for Max I am making it the same as Ed Alonzo's age was when he left the show.(Ed was about 24 at the time he left Saved By The Bell, so that's what age Max will be.) Virtual cookies will also go to those who can guess what other NBC show I am referring to in this chapter. This story was inspired by meeting Ed Alonzo after his show at Kings Island.(If you're ever in the Cincinnati area, head out to Kings Island and check out his show.) This chapter title comes from the Ramin Karimloo song Show Me Light.(Please check it out, it's a great song.) Later chapter titles will reflect whatever music I happened to be listening to at the time I wrote the chapter. Please read and review.

Chapter One: Show Me Light

'Ugh, there's that feeling again.' I think as I throw the covers back over my head.

Every day for the last month I've woken up with a pounding headache and always feeling sick to my stomach. This all started after the fundraiser to save The Max, my diner. I wonder what the hell is wrong with me. This is not something I've ever felt before. The phone rings jarring me out of my thoughts. I throw the covers off me and reach over and answer the phone.

"This is Max." I say.

"Max, this is Mary, the nurse at your doctor's." The voice on the other end says.

"What can I do for you Mary?" I ask puzzled.

"I'm calling with the results of the tests you had the other day." Mary says

"And, what are they?"

"I'm sorry to tell you, but you have a brain tumor."

"Is it cancer?"

I begin to pray it's not.

"I'm afraid it is." Mary says.

I feel the blood drain from my face when she says this. Cancer? I'm too young to die.

I collect myself and ask, "What are my options?"

"You'll have to talk to your doctor about that."

"When can I see him?" I ask.

"Dr. Greene has an opening tomorrow at two, would you like that?" Mary asks.

"Yes, I'll take it." I say.

"Ok, we'll see you then."

"Yeah, bye." I say and slowly hang up the phone.

'What am I going to do, and who am I going to tell about this?' I think as I get out of bed.

I get out of bed and get myself ready for what I feel is going to be the worst day of my life. I head out of my room and I leave the house. I get in my car and head to work. When I get there, there is someone standing outside. I get out of my car and walk up to them.

"I'm sorry, we're not open yet." I say.

"I'm not looking for food, I'm looking for the owner, Max." The guy says.

"I'm Max, and you are?" I ask.

"I'm Jeff, I saw that you were looking to sell the diner." He says.

"Let's go inside and we can talk." I say.

"Sounds good to me."

I unlock the door and we walk in. I quietly shut the door behind me.

"Have a seat." I say.

Jeff walks over to one of the tables and sits down. I walk over and take a seat across from him.

"As I was saying, I'd like to buy the diner." Jeff says.

"I'm not so sure I want to sell it anymore."

"Why?" Jeff asks puzzled.

I rub my temples and say, "I have many reasons for rethinking this, and some of them are personal."

'I can't sell my diner to this clown.' I think.

"What are the reasons that aren't personal?"

"Jessie, Kelly, Lisa, Slater, Screech, and Zack."

"Who are they?"

By now my head is pounding again and my vision starts to swim. I blink my eyes a few times and give my head a quick shake to clear it.

"They're students at Bayside High."

"You don't want to sell this place because of a bunch of high school kids?" Jeff asks.

"They look up to me, and besides, I told you, I have personal reasons for not wanting to sell."

"And what are they?"

"They are none of your damn business." I say irritated.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pried." Jeff says.

"It's not your fault, I've been on edge lately." I say.

"Why?" Jeff asks puzzled

"I nearly lost this place about a month ago, and I keep thinking I still could."

"So, what does that have to do with me?"

"Zack and his friends helped me save this place, and I know they'd help me again if I asked, but I don't think they'd do that for someone they don't trust." I say.

"I can get those kids to trust me, what do you say, will you sell me the diner?" Jeff asks.

"I have to think about it."

"What's there to think about, sell me The Max." Jeff says.

'God this guy is cocky.' I think.

"Let me run this by the kids before I make up my mind."

"Fine, but if I don't hear from you in two days, I'm leaving and I won't be back." Jeff says annoyed.

"Deal." I say and stick out my hand.

Jeff shakes it and gets up. He walks away and walks out the door. I put my arms on the table and cross them. I put my head on my arms and pray this is all a dream. My head starts to throb again and I know this isn't a dream.

"God, I know I don't usually pray, but I need your help. I need to know why you're doing this to me. Why did you give me cancer, and why did you send that jerk Jeff to buy my diner?" I ask no one.

Tears slide down my cheeks and I cry. I just sit there and cry while my employees get things ready around me.

"Hey Max, are you alright?" Someone asks.

I pick my head up and wipe my face with my hands. I see Melissa standing there. Melissa is about 23, a year younger than me, with hazel eyes, and curly dirty blonde hair, she's one of my best servers.

"No, Melissa, I'm not ok." I quietly say.

"What's wrong?" She asks.

"I don't want to talk about it here." I say.

"Where can we talk?"

"Come with me, we can talk in my office."

I get up from the table. As I do I see a napkin sitting there. I pick it up and see something scribbled on it. On it there is Jeff's name and phone number. I fold it and stick it in the front pocket of my jacket.

I walk away from the table with Melissa following me. We get to my office and I unlock the door. I open the door and Melissa walks in. I follow her in turning on the light and shutting the door.

"Have a seat." I say.

Melissa sits down on the chair next to my desk. I take a seat at my desk with a sigh.

"What's wrong Max?" Melissa asks.

"I got some bad news today." I say.

"What happened? Is everything ok with The Max?" Melissa asks concerned.

"The Max is fine, but I'm not." I say my voice cracking with fear.

"Oh my God, does this have anything to do with the guy you were talking to earlier?"

"Yes and no." I quietly say.

"What do you mean?" Melissa asks puzzled.

"I'm sure you know that I've been looking to sell The Max, well that guy I was talking to was looking to buy it." I say.

Tears I did not know were forming in my eyes begin to slide down my cheeks as I say this. I try in vain to wipe them away. I don't know what I'm going to do. I really don't want to sell this place to Jeff.

"You're not going to sell to him, are you?"

"I don't know what I'm going to do just yet." I sniffle.

"I know my opinion probably doesn't mean much, but I think that guy is a jerk. I don't like him and I can't figure out why." Melissa says.

"He's cocky and arrogant and personally, I think he'll run this place into the ground." I say.

"So, don't sell to him. It's that simple."

"It's not that simple Melissa."

"What do you mean by that?" Melissa asks.

"I have a personal reason for wanting to sell, but on the other hand, I also have a personal reason for not wanting to sell."

"What are your reasons?"

"Well, I don't want to sell because this place was my mothers and I want to keep it in the family. As far as why I want to sell, well, my health is not good." I say with a sigh.

"What do you mean your health is not good?"

"Before I tell you that, I need you to swear you won't say a word to anyone else."

"I promise, I won't tell a soul, I will take this to my grave." Melissa says.

"I have cancer." I quietly say.

"What?" Melissa asks shocked.

"I found out this morning, I have a brain tumor and it's cancer."

"Oh God, Max, I'm so sorry." Melissa says.

I see tears form in her eyes. They stream down her cheeks and land on her shirt. She tries to wipe them away in vain.

"Please don't cry."

"Don't cry, you're dying Max, why shouldn't I cry?" Melissa asks.

"Melissa, I hate to see you cry, you know that."

"Are you trying to tell me you love me or something?"

"You know I care about you, in fact I've cared about you since we first met."

"But caring about someone is not the same as love." Melissa protests.

"I do have feelings for you, but I'm not sure if I can call it love." I say.

"Max, we've slept together, how can you say you don't love me?" Melissa asks.

I shrug my shoulders and say, "I don't know. I've never really felt this way about anyone before."

"Well, I've got something to say." Melissa says.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Max, I love you."

I smile at her.

"Thanks, that means a lot to me." I say.

"So, are you ever going to tell Zack and his friends, or the rest of the staff you're sick?" Melissa asks.

I nod my head and say, "Yes, I'll tell everyone after we close tonight."

"I'll let the staff know they need to stay after close." Melissa quietly says.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"I guess I'll let you go now." I whisper.

I quickly lay my hands on my desk and cross them. My head drops onto my arms and I bury my face in my desk. I don't want Melissa to see the hopelessness and dread that's written all over my face. I feel Melissa's hand on mine. She gives it a gentle squeeze.

"Max, I'm here for you if you ever want to talk." Melissa says.

"Thanks, I may take you up on your offer sometime." I say my voice muffled by my desk.

I pick my head up and try to force a smile.

"You don't have to fake it for me, I know you're down."

"I don't think I can fool anyone." I say.

Melissa smiles and gets up. She stands up and turns to leave. She gets to the door, turns her head, and speaks.

"Max, I want you to remember something." She says.

"What's that?" I ask.

"Just remember, you don't have to face what you're going through alone. I'm here for you and I always will be."

I smile. Melissa turns her head back and walks out the door, shutting it behind her. I'm alone with my thoughts now and I'm thinking it might not be such a bad day after all.

Another Author Note: Awwww, isn't that sweet? Max has a love interest. Will Max ever profess his love to her? You'll have to read the next chapter to find out.