I didn't get around to kiss you goodbye on the hand. I wish that I could see you again. I know that I can't.
"Maria, I am telling you! I am totally fine with everything that happened between Max and Tess. Besides, what ever did happen is totally over. Max loves me…" Liz said as both Maria and herself sat in her bedroom. A bucket of Rocky Road ice cream in-between the both of them, spoons in their hands.
"That wasn't very convincing, Liz." Maria said, shoving a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. The usual cynicism that surrounded Maria normally was in full power tonight. Liz just shrugged at her best friend.
"Well…then…I don't know how to convince you." Liz said, with a sweet smile. Maria smiled back and then stood suddenly.
"Enough of this talk! Are we going for Depp or Bloom tonight?" Maria said as she marched over to the shelf that held Liz's DVD collection. Liz took another bite of the ice cream. She sat up a bit, about to answer when someone came rushing through the door. The women both looked at him in awe. It was Max. Liz was at a loss for words, she couldn't imagine anything that would make Max barge in like that. Unless it was something horrible happened.
Max just stood there, a look of horror on his face. His clothes were soaked a bit through. Tears traced the edges of his eyes, waiting for the time to fall.
"Michael. He's…dead. He's gone." Max said as he fought for his composer. He could hardly hold himself up let alone bare to tell the girls the news they desperately wished wasn't true.
"What? No…" Maria said, as she practically immediately hit the floor. Liz caught her just in time and they both made an easy fall to the floor.
"No…no, this is not happening." Maria softly sobbed into Liz's shoulder. Liz could hardly believe it. She didn't cry, she just went blank for a moment. Letting it all sink in. She hadn't even blinked yet. It was shock. Finally, she looked over at Max, who managed to take a few steps into her bedroom. She was suddenly thankful that her parents were out of town, he wouldn't want her parents to see something like it. She turned her thoughts back to Max.
"How?" She asked quietly. Max just shrugged.
"We don't know. We went to his apartment and he was slouched on his couch. When we got there, he was already dead." Max was in pain just saying the words, but they had to hear it. He couldn't take his sad eyes off of the two women in front of him.
"Did you try to-"Liz started asking but Max knew what she was about to ask.
"I tried. It didn't work." Max said as a tear fell down his cheek. It was shameful that he could save so many others lives but when it came to one of his own, he couldn't do it.
"What about the stones?" Liz asked right after Max answered her first question. She wasn't going to believe it. She couldn't believe that he couldn't be saved when she had been saved from death so easily.
"Isabel and I tried it. Nothing happened." Max said as he took a few steps closer to the girls. "He's just…gone." Max said as he bent over the girls and wrapped his arms protectively around them. Maria was clutching Liz's t-shirt, refusing to let go.
"Where's Isabel?" Liz asked, looking over at Max. Who wasn't even trying to hide his tears anymore. They were close to each other. Their faces practically touching.
"Downstairs in the car." Max stated.
"Bring her up here. None of us should be alone tonight." Liz said as she combed her thin fingers through Maria's long blonde hair. Max nodded and stood to exit the room. He took one last look at Maria and Liz on the floor. Liz tried her best to sooth her friend, when in her mind she couldn't shake images of Michael away. The invaded her brain, and wouldn't leave.
Hours later, everyone was fast asleep in Liz's house. Since her parents were out of town, Maria and Isabel were sleeping in their room. Max and Liz fell asleep in her bed, holding each other close. They spent all night talking, the four of them. About Michael, memories. Bad and good. Liz seemed the calm note within all the chaos. All the tears