[b]Part 2[/b]

Now Michael and Maria, that's some story! Liz was still disgusted by how much her best friend adored that rugged, poorly-bathed lowlife. Michael Guerin lived in a trailer park, for heaven's sakes. Everybody knew he wouldn't amount to anything. But then of course, Liz supposed, beggars can't be choosers. Maria Deluca, stripped of everything on the outside, wasn't exactly a diamond. Well okay the jocks might argue but that wasn't what Liz meant. Maria was from a broken home, and she wasn't exactly that bright. Liz even made sure she never got partnered up with her in school projects. Maria might drag her average down.

So seriously when Michael began sniffing after Maria, Liz was a bit grossed out. She'd have to be exposed to the Guerin kid. She was pleasantly surprised that Michael preferred not to hang out with her. That solved things. Whoever thought his loner bit would have some positive results?

And what Liz couldn't understand was how Maria's taste in men was so opposite ends of the spectrum. On one hand she really cares about Michael. She says she loves him but what does she know really. Now Michael was the type Liz would really recoil from. But Maria had a crush too. Maria had had a crush on Max Evans even before she got together with Michael. Maria, like every other girl in school, thought Max was fine. Max Evans was the perfect boyfriend to bring home to mom. Liz could not agree more.

Isabel thought the Michael and Maria bit was utterly fascinating. But then Isabel was blonde, Liz figured. She'd think everything was fascinating. Isabel always romanticized how Maria was the sunshine in Michael's life, and how Michael started to smile more since he dated Maria. Liz's eyebrow totally arched at that. Who cares how many times that orphan smiled?

"Maria!"

Maria turned around and saw him running towards her. She closed her eyes and opened them again. "Am I hallucinating? Or is Max Evans, hall monitor since fifth grade, running in the corridor?" To her surprise, he blushed. "So what can I do for you? I know Kyle didn't decide to suddenly file a complaint against Michael, because he just asked for the favor we settled on a while ago at the eraser room."

Max stiffened. "What did he ask for?"

Maria grinned. "Chill, Maxwell. I might dress like one but I assure you I'm not a whore." If red could turn redder, Max did at that moment. "I gave him the English assignment he asked for."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh. Now aren't you ashamed for leaping to conclusions?"

"Maybe this will make up for it." Max opened the zipper of his expensive school bag and drew out a single rose.

Now Maria doesn't get surprised often. But that one threw her. "What's that?" Max raised his brows. "Well fine I know. But what are you doing giving it to me?"

"Because I admire you, Maria." Maria held up her hands. She glanced at the hallway. And then she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the eraser room. "Woah!"

"Okay," She took a deep breath. "First of all, I didn't even know you knew my first name. Second of all, I thought you were smart. What the hell were you thinking of whipping a flower into my direction after you've seen Kyle Valenti's mug face today?"

"You're not going to accept it?"

Maria shook her head. "Look, you are outrageously, scandalously gorgeous," she told him. "I've had a crush on you for the longest time, Max." Does the guy ever stop blushing? "But I am in a committed relationship." And then she remembered who her boyfriend was. "Well, I'm in a relationship," she amended. "And even accepting that would mean I'm entertaining other people. I don't want to hurt Michael like that."

Max nodded. "All right. Sorry." Max left the eraser room.

Maria sat down on the floor and leaned her head back. "Wow," she whispered. After mooning about Max Evans for years, he finally noticed her. She never realized until now how serious, how intense things were getting with Michael. From the flighty free girl she used to be, she was now Maria Deluca-girl who turned down Roswell High's poll winner for "If you have to be stuck in an island." for the "Least Likely to Succeed and Leave Roswell."

The door swung open to reveal the trim boy who she said no to her longtime crush for. "Glad you're keeping your appointments, lover," she greeted.

"What are you doing down there?"

She shrugged. "Thinking."

Michael sighed and settled beside her, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "That's one small dress you're wearing again, baby."

"You disapprove?"

He shook his head. "You look hot. And I'm not gonna tell you to stop wearing anything that makes you comfortable."

Maria smiled. And then she turned to him and pulled his face closer for a kiss. Michael pulled away. "I thought we met here to kiss and make out," she said.

"We did. But you were doing some thinking, so there must be something going on," he reasoned. "So let's push the make out session til later and we'll think together." He pulled her to lean on his shoulder and sat quietly.

She took a deep breath. She adored moments when she and Michael were alone. While the world would sometimes think that he was worthless and insensitive, Maria knew better. At the darkest times when Amy got drunk and yelled at Maria, blaming her for the fact that her father ran away with another woman, Maria could call Michael up and he would be there to comfort her after less than fifteen minutes.

"Hey." Maria looked up at him after about half an hour. "Are you going to class? I can't miss next period. We have an exam in less than two weeks."

"Aww s-hit, Maria. I'll coast, don't worry. But I have to do some stuff for Hank."

"Yeah, like clean up his mess!" Maria retorted. "You're going to fall behind, Michael."

"I don't need high grades, baby. Just pass. Your man's smart."

"I know, I know." Maria sighed and brought his lips down for a kiss. "Come on. I plan on not being late."

Michael rose to his feet and pulled Maria up. He peeked outside. "Just checkin' to see if that Evans kid is lurking. Okay safe." He rested his arm over Maria's shoulder and walked her to the room. "Have fun."

Maria walked into the room and settled on her seat. The teacher was already there, looking at Maria with an arched eyebrow. "Ms Deluca, was that by any chance Mr Guerin?"

"Ummm yes, ma'am."

"And doesn't Mr. Guerin belong to this English class?"

Maria bit her lip. "He hasn't been feeling well since he had that desert at the cafeteria." She waited with bated breath to see if the teacher would buy the excuse.

"Oh the poor boy. They're probably serving week old cakes in that canteen now!"

Maria let out her sigh of relief.

~~

The rose dropped on the sink where Liz was washing her beakers for Chemistry class. Her gaze shot up, and her heart dropped to the ground when she saw Max Evans. Finally! He made the move. Calming herself, she asked, "Is that for me?"

"Yeah sure," he replied, distracted. Liz gingerly picked up the rose and murmured her thanks. "Can I talk to you?"

She must be blushing crimson by now. She forced herself to be cool. "Talk away. I've already started our experiment."

"Thanks." Max took a seat on the lab table. "It's just that I'm so frustrated. She didn't accept it. And I think I saw her come into the eraser room with her boyfriend."

Liz, who was carefully measuring chemicals, frowned at Max. She was expecting a declaration of undying love. She'd even have accepted infatuation. Infatuation from Max Evans meant power and popularity in Roswell High. "You've totally lost me."

"Partner," Max said. Liz hated that name! Unless of course he meant partner in life. Tough luck! He always meant partner in laboratory classes. They've been paired since freshman year. Both Liz and Max recognized the advantage of staying with someone with brains in lab. "I think I've got it bad for your best friend. I brought that flower for her but she turned it down. And I just saw her sneaking off with that loser boyfriend of hers."

Liz was screaming in frustration inside her head. Aaaaaarrrggghhhh! Why would perfect Max fall for that slut? The other boys could. They were stupid. But Max was intelligent. Max was like her, after all. Suddenly, the rose wasn't that pretty anymore. Liz made a note to herself to drop it in the closest trash can as soon as possible.

"Max," she said gently, gritting her teeth. "The girl is in love. Sad to say but you can't just step into her life like that."

"But Guerin's no good for her. He hasn't got a future."

"Oh please!" Liz laughed out loud. "You seriously think you can convince me that you're considering a future with her? Max, guys don't want Maria for the long haul. Guys [I]want[/I] Maria."

And then Max smiled at Liz in a way that made Liz want to grab the muriatic acid from the shelf and hurl it on Maria. He was such an angel! "Thought you knew I'm not most guys." Max hopped down. "Hey thanks for the chat. I need to go to the bathroom."

Liz watched Max's retreating back, fury boiling within her. Maria was going to get it. She was so going to get it.