AN: This is my first story I wrote years ago but never had the courage to post it. It was written in the early hours of the morning, I don't have a Beta for this story so if anyone is interested in helping me with this please contact me otherwise please feel free to point out the mistakes.

Disclaimer…. I wish I did but I don't owe them, I do own Mr Myers though. Please don't sue I'm just a Mother who has time on her hands.

This story is set in the first season after their destiny has been revealed using the scenario what happens if the group has to work together.

Let me know what you think of this story, so I know whether to keep posting also I am a Aussie so excuse my lack of understanding of the American language and school system.

"What do you mean we have no choice?" Maria yelled

She couldn't believe her luck. After spending the summer and the first few weeks of school avoiding them, she was trapped in the same classroom as Max, Michael, Isabel, Liz, Alex and Tess. Kyle didn't count because with their parents dating they had been forced to see each other during family dinners.

Mr Myers the English head had detained them all after school.

"It has come to my attention that you all need to pull your grade average up or risk failing English." Mr Myers said

As soon as he had walked in the room he could feel the tension in the air. All their teachers had witness how close some of these kids had become last year. They all agreed that something must have happened to make these kids become moody, not too mention have their schoolwork suffer.

"Care factor" grumbled Michael. He didn't like this, he felt trapped. For the first time in months he could sense her, smell her and it wasn't helping him at all.

Mr Myers heard him " You should care young man, you more than the others are close to failing this year."

Max could sense Michael was ready for a fight. " So all we need to do is organise a school musical and all our grades will be safe?"

"Yes Max, it was agreed by your parents and the teachers that if you could organise a school musical that all of you will pass."

"No way am I working with any of them." Maria said firmly

Liz flinched to hear Maria say that. They use to be so close but Maria had been avoiding them all for months now. Liz thought maybe this is what we need to start talking again. She was suddenly shaken out of her thoughts

"Miss Parker, if you could please pay attention. There is a lot to organise and not a lot of time to do it in.," said Mr Myers

Isabel spoke up " So say we actually do this, how much time do we have?"

"There is the catch, with the exchanges students coming in 4 months you have to have to Musical over and done with before then."

"So hold on, you are saying we have to have this whole thing organised and performed in 3 months?" asked Alex in a panic

"Yes Mr Whitman, that is exactly what I am saying."

"Excuse me Mr Myers, but why am I here?" asked Tess

"Ah yes, I wondered when you would ask that. Well, let me see you only arrived here just before the end of last year. Your records seemed to have disappear and you need to do this to get a grade for English." He said

At hearing this Maria glanced over at Michael. She was recalling the time Michael had taken a look at Tess's records and how he had been yet again not including her. NO, I will not think of him, she told herself firmly.

While Maria had been thinking, Mr Myers had continued.

"And before you ask Kyle, you are here because unless you get your average up you will be taken off the Basketball team. It night interest you to know that your dad thought it would do you good too.

Max, Michael, Isabel, Tess, Liz, Alex and even Maria all looked at each other. They knew why Kyle's dad thought it would be a good idea. Great, though Kyle. He had been forced to spend time with Maria and now, he is being forced to spend time with all of them. Oh what a great start to Junior Year.

"Ok, now you all know why you are here. So let's get down to business. The Musical that we want you to put on is called ' Blood Brothers' by Willy Russell. Here is a script for each of you to work from. Now listen as I tell you which jobs you will be doing. Mr Evans, you will be our Director.

"Figures" smirked Michael

"Mr Guerin, you will be our set designer."

"Is that like art and woodwork and stuff?" asked Michael. If it were maybe things wouldn't be so bad.

"Yes, Mr Guerin that is exactly what it is like."

"Cool," said Michael.

"Miss Parker you will be our Stage Manager and, lets just say right-hand women. Which basically means you and Mr Evans will be working together."

Tess couldn't believe what had just been said, Max and Liz were going to be working together, this was bad.

"Miss Evans you will be in charge of Costume design and Miss Harding will assist you.

Cool, thought Isabel, this is something I can do.

"Tess what do you think?" asked Isabel. But Tess didn't answer, she was still trying to get over the fact that Liz and Max where going to be working together. If I did have a chance to be with Max she thought I don't anymore.

"Tess, Tess", said Isabel shaking her "Are you OK?"

"What, oh yeah just fine Iz, just trying to get over the fact that if we don't do this we fail English," she lied.

"Girls, you will have a chance to talk when I have finished," said Mr Myers

"Sorry," said Isabel and Tess together.

"Now, where was I, ah yes, Mr Whitman I would like you to be in charge of the sound/music and Miss De Luca I would like you to help him."

Maria cut him off "Yeah, OK, I guess I could do that."

"Miss De Luca please let me finish?"

"What, oh sorry."

"As I was saying I would like you to help Mr Whitman with the music and Mr Guerin with the set design.

"WHAT?" shrieked Maria she suddenly didn't feel well " NO way am I helping him" she said him with disdain." I will help Alex that's fine, but you can't ask me to help Michael as well please." Maria begged

Michael just sat there without any expression on his face at all. Maria couldn't believe that he didn't say anything. Then it hit her; he doesn't care about me anymore that is why he hasn't said anything. It won't bother him in the least. Well I don't care either, she announced to herself.

Michael was watching Maria when he noticed her facial expression change. She suddenly had a very blank look on her face. He could have sworn there had be a flash of hurt but now there was nothing.

Mr Myers tried not to laugh at Maria's outburst. Jim Valenti had warned him that she would protest, but Jim had also said not to change the way things had been done.

"Sorry Mr Myers, I will do what you ask me to," said Maria

Everyone just stared at her. She gave up way too easy. Where were the fireworks? Maria never gives up without a fight. Liz thought about it for a minute and then walked over to where Maria was.

"Are you ok Maria?"

"I'm fine Liz." Said Maria hoping that maybe if she didn't get into a conversation with her she would just give up and go back to where Alex and Isabel were sitting.

Liz took the hint, "OK then, but you know if you need to talk I'm here. We use to tell each other everything."

Maria was saved from answering because Mr Myers started to talk again.

"And finally Mr Valenti, you will be in charge of lights and Light design."

"Ok then." Kyle said he had resigned himself to this.

"Right that is everything except, Publicity which you are all going to do as a group. I will be your consulting teacher but basically you are on your own. I will check in once a week to see how you are all going. Are there any questions? Ok no, then I will leave you all here to discuss everything. All your parents aren't expecting you home till 7pm. It is now 4pm so you have the next 3 hours to work with. I will be back to lock up then, good luck." Mr Myers said as he left them alone.

No one spoke; they just looked at each other.

"Ok, so if we all have to work together, maybe someone should explain why Maria isn't talking to any of you?" said Kyle. Being forced to spend time with Maria made him realise how different she seemed from before summer. Kyle wondered why and now had the perfect opportunity to find out.

"Kyle it is simple. I don't get along with them anymore, ok, so just drop it." Said Maria.

Maria was so hoping Kyle would, because he had seen her through the summer and she was so sure he had witnessed her crying one a few occasions and that was the last thing she wanted known. Yeah she missed Alex and Liz even Isabel and Max and especially Michael but she had to move on.

Max could sense how uncomfortable Maria was getting with Kyle' questions. Eventhough Maria hadn't talked to them since that faithful day, as far as Max was concerned she was still part of his family and he wanted to make things easier for her.

"Kyle, I don't really think now is the time and place for this." He said

Kyle looked at Max. He and Max had come to an understanding after Max had saved his life and Kyle had finally been told about their alien heritage, but that didn't mean he was his best friend or anything

"Max, I think this is the perfect time and place. If we expect to make this Musical a success that we at least have to be talking to each other." Kyle said

"Max, I agree with Kyle. We need to sort this out," said Isabel

Isabel turned and looked at the others. Some of this was going to be easy and some was going to be hard. First of all Isabel had to get Max and Liz talking again, which shouldn't be too hard. Alex and I are already talking to her. Getting Michael to talk to Liz and Alex also shouldn't be too hard. The hard ones will be getting Tess and Liz to talk and of course getting Maria to talk to any of them.

Isabel looked over at Maria, before she and Maria had been getting pretty close. She missed her friendship with the blonde firecracker. She knew Alex and Liz missed Maria and even Michael though, he wouldn't admit it out loud. Isabel made a decision and then got up and walked over to where Maria was sitting. She sat down beside her and noticed Maria tensing up.

"Maria, I think we need to talk?" Isabel said

"Look no offensive Isabel but I don't really want to talk to you."

"Tough, because you are going to sit and listen to what I have to say."

"Fine, I will listen but don't expect me to enjoy it."

"Maria before everything happened, I thought you and I were becoming good friends. So this is why I'm saying what I am. Maria no one knows what happened to you over the summer but everyone is worried most of all Alex and Liz. I have spent a lot of time with them and you avoiding them are hurting them. I can understand you not wanting to talk to max, Michael Tess and myself but why are you avoiding Liz and Alex? They have been your best friends since you were in the 5th grade. Why I don't understand?

Without Isabel and Maria knowing the rest of the group overheard what Isabel had asked they were all waiting for Maria's answer.

"Isabel, please don't ask me that. I can't." Maria looked up and saw that everyone was watching and waiting." I can't answer that but I will promise to work with you all on this production but that is it. I can't open myself to that kind of hurt again I just can't." Maria turned away from them she couldn't bare to see the look in there eyes. This is so unfair I didn't ask to be here. I don't think I'm strong enough to start spending all my time with them again.

Mari felt a hand on her shoulder, she knew without even looking up that it was Liz's.

"Maria please talk to me. Tell me why it hurts to talk to us. I can understand you not wanting to talk to Michael but the rest of us?" Liz asked

"Maria didn't think she could take much more. Fine," she said, "You want to know I will tell you then" She stood up and faced them all. She looked straight at Michael's face; she couldn't hold it in any longer she open her mouth and the words just tumbled out

"That day Michael when you told me you loved me too much and walked away I vowed never to let anyone get close to me again. I'm what you would call a stonewall now no one gets in and I'm afraid that includes you two," Maria said as she turned and faced Alex and Liz. "So now you all know, deal with it anyway you want. Call me when you are ready to start working on the Musical." Saying that Maria ran out of the room.

Everyone was so shocked at what she just said that they didn't see Michael follow her out,

"Maria, please come back," he yelled at her as she ran down the hallway.

Michael stopped he couldn't believe his sweet Maria had just said all those things. Michael slowly turned around and walked back into the room readying himself for the onslaught that everyone would give him, because after all, this was his fault.