"Thank you for giving me one more reason to envy Max Evans." Michael looked me in the eyes as he said it and I could see—I could see in his eyes how true that was.

I didn't know what to say because with that one sentence with that one look, I could see and feel how Michael felt.

"And you might want to get better window locks …for when your criminals happen to be human."

And he was gone and I stayed in my place, still too shocked to move. Finally I walk off and I think about how very different Michael and Max are. How very lucky Max and Isabel were and I imagine how hard Michael's life has been.

As I walk to the UFO Center, I can't help but think about how true Michael's words felt. It would seem like Max has gotten the better end of the stick. He had loving parents, a sister to share everything with, and someone who looked at him with hero worship. I blushed. I would do anything in my power to keep Max—all three of them safe. Michael didn't seem to have anyone.

And held my tears as I decided I had to be nicer to both Isabel and Michael. True they were a little more standoffish and they had voted for Max to protect their secret…but if the tables were turned would I have agreed with Max or with Michael and Isabel. I knew their secret. I had to make them all see I could be trusted.

When I found Max I told him I'd gotten my journal back from a good friend but I still had to make him understand why I wrote what I wrote.

"No...I know you think that I was foolish, you know, to write about that day and you and everything. What I wrote in my journal, it didn't really have anything to do with science. Um...that day that you saved me, I felt something that I just had to put into words...so years from now, if anyone ever...if anyone ever touches me the way that you did, I'll know what it's supposed to feel like."

I thought our friendship would grow from there but Max only insisted day after day that we couldn't be close…not like I wanted. And as time passed, I put a lot of thought into my feelings for him.

Was I awed and felt love for him as some kind of hero worship because he had saved me. Or had he opened my eyes when he showed me how he saw me. I felt a connection to him because of what we shared.

Isabel and I had been paired up for some history project at school. I was scared about how that would go but it actually turned out to be a good thing for the whole group. Maria and Michael still couldn't stand each other. Alex new the truth after a couple of weeks and was surprisingly calm about the whole thing. Kyle and Max still wanted to kill each other, although Max only forced himself to feel that way to piss Kyle off. Max and I had fallen into a routine that was more of a friendship than anything else.

After running off to Marathon, Texas and having special agents show up at school, I knew what Max was talking about. It wasn't safe for any of us to start any kind of relationships that were more on the romantic side.

It was easy after a couple of months to be nothing but Max's friend. Out of Maria, Alex and I, I was the one who got along with all 3 Czechoslovakians.

Max of course was the easiest to get along with. Isabel had her moods. She was open one day and reserved the next. And Michael, well he knows he can trust me but it's not easy for him. He's been protecting himself his whole life, I know he can bring his walls down but he's scared.

"Parker, get your head out of the clouds." He snaps at me and I blink to bring myself to the present.

"Sorry." I say sheepishly. "What were you saying?"

"I was saying that Max and Isabel can't meet us for lunch. They went off with their parents to—I can't remember but they won't be here."

He looks at me to see if that's going to be a problem. I simply shrug.

"Alex has band practice and Maria is sick with the flu."

We all met during lunch.

"So it's you and me?" He cocked an eyebrow.

"Looks like it." I nod.

He nods himself and pulls out his worn out copy of Ulysses as I pull out my homework. I smile. I was surprised when I learned that Michael was an active reader. I loved hanging out with him and to just sit and read. It was never uncomfortable and when we first started hanging out, we were surprised at how at ease we felt around with other while reading.

We hang out a lot…Michael and me. I think every time we do, he looks to see when I'll come to my senses and stop hanging out with him. It's going to take him a while. But I get frustrated when he thinks like that. I laugh out loud. And he looks up from his work. I look back down at my homework. He never tells me what he's thinking but somehow I can tell just by looking at him. I hope that one day very soon he can see how truly special he is.

Hank is the biggest reasons for why Michael is the way he is. I hate that man more than I hate alien hunters. I don't know how to bring him up with Michael. I've seen what he's done to Michael. He hurts him physically but the mentally is what tore him down.

"What's up Parker? You look like you're ready to cry?" He sounds concerned.

I blink real fast and fake a smile. Thankfully lying about aliens made me think faster and stay on my toes. It's easier to lie now. "I get so consumed by homework sometimes that I forget to blink. My dad needs to take me to get my vision tested. I think I might need reading glasses."

He chuckles and shakes his head.

"What's so funny?" My smile is real now. It's good to see Michael smiling.

"Just thinking how reading glasses would finish the job."

I frown not understanding. "What job?"

"You'll look like the perfect book worm—the perfect geek." He teases.

I grab a cheeto and throw it at him. "Whatever, asshole."

His jaw drops and I laugh.

"Parker did you swear? I've never heard you swear." This is rare for Michael. He never teases me like this. He must be having a good day.

"Shut it, Guerin." I warn. But we both know there's no threat in my tone.

We go back to what we were doing and when the bell rings to let us know lunch is over I can't help but think of how comfortable and relaxed I am with Michael. Today by far has been the best lunch I've had in a long time.