(Ch 2) Hamilton Hill High (the next day)…

Max made her way up the steps to the entrance. Before she could open the door, she heard two familiar, yelling voices. Her friends Dana and Terry were arguing in front of their classmates, not seeming to notice them.

"Dana look I'm sorry I just didn't want to go to the club tonight. I needed some sleep."

"I don't understand why you're still working for Mr. Wayne. Why don't you just quit all ready?"

"I can't, my family needs the money, and Mr. Wayne's a good guy to work for."

"Why don't you just find another job?"

"I really like this job Dana. I won't abandon it."

"Well then we are over this time and I mean for good. You were a good, loyal boyfriend and a really bad boyfriend at the same time."

Terry heard a voice respond to Dana's comment and saw Max at his side. "He's a bad boyfriend, what about you?"

"What are you talking about, Max?" asked Dana.

"At the club yesterday you let those guys grind you and there was that other time I saw you flirting with a guy and you said it was harmless. I can't believe I fell for that. You cheated on Terry when you were both together."

"You really are smart, Max." She looked at Terry. "I got tired of him not being there. I needed someone to be there for me, so I started seeing other guys."

Max looked at her friend to see how devastated he was. It nearly broke her heart that Dana would hurt Terry this way. She led Terry to a deserted place of the school. She watched him sit down. The quiet was making Max uncomfortable, so she sat down beside Terry, hoping she could help him through this. "Terry, is there anything I can do?" He looked up at her, and she could see the pain in his light, blue eyes.

"No, but thanks for being here for me."

"That's what friends are for." She placed her hand on his shoulder, and she sighed. "You know your mom is worried about you to. She called me yesterday and said she needed my help, so she could find out how you're doing.

He smiled sadly. "Yeah, that sounds like my mom."

"Are you going to be ok?"

"I don't know yet, but I'll let you know when I'm better." He watched Max smile, and it seemed to be contagious because he smiled to. The bell rang.

"You think you're going to be up to going to class?"

"Yeah, I need something to focus on."

"Think you can stay awake long enough to make that happen?"

"Ha, ha, very funny Gibson."

After school…

Terry and Max went to Max's place to hang out. Terry lied on her bed watching TV while Max was on her computer typing something. When the commercial came, Terry turned his attention to his friend. "What are you doing?"

"I'm working on my valedictorian speech."

"Congratulations Max."

"Thanks Terry, I'm even surprised since I have been helping you out with your after school activity."

"And I really appreciate it Max."

"You can show your appreciation by showing me the bat cave."

"Not going to happen."

"It was worth a shot." She closed her laptop and placed it on her desk.

She sat on the other side of her bed beside her friend.

"You finished already?"

"Yep, and it's perfect." She smiled.

Terry turned on his side to face her." I'm really happy for you Max. You deserve it."

"You're such a sweet guy Terry. No matter how much Dana searches for someone to be with, she'll never find someone as great as you are."

He didn't know what to say to that. He was completely blown away by what she said. Before he could respond, the phone rang, and he had to be Batman. "I'll see you later, Max." She watched him leave, but she was still worried about him.

Gotham Supermarket…

Mary McGinnis was picking up a few items that she needed at home. She was thinking about Terry, and she hoped Max had talked to him. She really was a good friend to her son. She wasn't paying attention, and her cart collided with another, looking up she saw Maxine.

"Sorry Miss. McGinnis, I wasn't paying attention."

"I wasn't either dear."

"You're worried about Terry to."

"What happened Maxine?"

"Dana dumped him, and he found out she was cheating on him."

"Oh dear, how is he?"

"He won't talk about it, so I'm guessing not good."

Max and Marry made their way to checkout and after everything was paid for, Max walked Mary to her car and helped her put her groceries into the trunk. "Graduation's soon, your parents must be thrilled about you getting valedictorian." She saw Max frown and a pain was in her eyes. "What's the matter?"

"Th-their not coming. I tried to convince my family to come but they claim to be busy."

"Why would they do such a thing?"

"They don't love me, that's obvious."

"Oh dear that can't be true."

"It is, they're never home. I'm by myself, and I live off what money they send me. They haven't been home since two years ago."

Mary's eyes widened. She felt sympathy for the girl, so she held the girl in her arms. "Matt and I will be there for your graduation Max and Terry will be there with you. You're not alone sweetheart. We'll be cheering for you on the sidelines."

Max smiled. "I appreciate that Miss. McGinnis. I can see where Terry gets his tenderness from." She waved goodbye to Mary and walk with her cart to her own car.

Mary is struck by what Max had said about her son on the way home from the market. She smiled and thought maybe Max would be better for Terry than Dana ever could be. It was just heartbreaking about Max's home life. She had no idea, and she wondered if Terry knew. He had been over to her would be summer soon. Maybe there would be room in his heart for someone who really and truly cared about him. That person was certainly Max.

McGinnis Home…

Mary pulled up into the driveway to see both of her sons outside, waiting for her. They came towards her, helping her with the groceries. After everything was put away, she relaxed on the couch with her two sons and watched her sons watch TV. She turned to Terry and looked away as he spotted her glance.

"What's up mom?"

"I ran into Max at the market. She told me everything Terry."

"But that's not what's troubling you the most."

"No, but I hope something good can come out of what happened to you."

"Thanks mom." He smiled at her. "So, what's wrong?"

"It's Max. I asked her about her parents coming to graduation, and she said they weren't. What do you know about her home life?"

"Well she told me her family travels and that's why they're not home but I don't believe it."

"You're right Terry, and I wish you weren't." She sighed as her hands trembled as Terry held them.

"Mom, what's the truth?"

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Her family isn't coming to see her graduate. She says she's lived alone in her house for a long time by herself with her parent's money supporting her. I can't believe her parents abandoned her like that."

"What!" Terry exclaimed.

"I told her we'd been rooting for her at graduation, all of us would."

"Sure mom, Max is cool," said Matt.

Terry smiled. "Thanks mom."

"She's a great girl who deserves happiness."

"Yeah I know, she's done so much for me and now it's time to return her kindness."

"Oh that reminds me, is Mr. Wayne going to be there?"

"Yeah he is." Terry made his to the door. "I'm going out."

"Be back by eleven."

Cheesy Dan's…

The arcade was full of teenagers. Terry spotted Max and Howard

playing a virtual reality fighting game. When they took their helmets off, Howard smiled. "Hey Terry, how's it going?"

"Ok I guess."

"I heard the whole fight dude, sorry about what happened."

"Thanks Howard." He looked right Max and suddenly butterflies entered her stomach. "You ok Max."

"Um yeah Terry, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"No reason." He smiled as he got an idea.

"What is it McGinnis? I know that devious smile anywhere."

"Whose up for getting wasted on pizza and ice cream?" He saw as Max and Howard grinned.

"Sounds like an excellent idea Terry," said Howard.

Two pizza pies and two cartons of ice cream later the trio was smiling drunkenly at one another. "Th-that was oh my god why did we do this again?" asked Max.

"Blame Terry, he's the mastermind," said Howard.

"Of course blame me, you two went along with it."

"Oh, this isn't good, I think I need to throw up," said Howard as he ran to the bathroom.

Max turned from Howard to Terry. "You're evil."

"I guess I'll have Batman get right on that." They both laughed, and it seemed to echo because Dana saw them.

Terry and Max got up from the booth as Terry entered the boy's bathroom, he sensed someone behind. "Max, this is the boy's bathroom."

"I know I just want to make sure Howard's ok."

"You're so lucky no one else is in here besides him."

They heard Howard heaving. "Howard, I'm so sorry man."

"D-don't worry about it Terry. I had fun today."

Suddenly footsteps were heading towards them. "Max, you have to get out now," said Terry.

"Not enough time." She pulled Terry and her into a bathroom stall, shutting the door behind them. She stood on the toilet seat, and Terry's feet were on the ground. Terry got a rush from being dragged in. He let out the breath he was holding in, and he turned to Max, who was smiling at him. He glared back at her.

"Man, did you see Dana when she saw McGinnis and Gibson having a good time together," said Nelson.

"Well their friends right? Friends can have a good time together," said the other guy.

"Yeah, if that good time means hooking up. I mean think about it. He's probably with Gibson when he is supposed to be with Dana. McGinnis is the jerk not Dana."

Max was about to open the stall door to give Nelson a piece of her mind before Terry held her back with his arm around her waist. When they both heard the pair of footsteps leave, they got out of the stall and left the bathroom. No one had noticed Max was in there. While they waited for Howard, Terry watched in amusement as Max let out her frustration.

"Can you believe Nelson? That jerk, he has no right to assume things he knows nothing about. I mean us hooking is ridiculous, especially since you would never cheat on her."

"I think Dana saw us laughing together but why would she be jealous? It makes no sense."

"Actually it does make sense," said Howard.

"WHAT!" Terry and Max said.

"You two are such good friends. She probably feels threatened by that."

"It's none of her business anyway. She broke up with me she cheated on me. Who cares what she thinks." They had never heard Terry sound so cold before, but this was probably what he did when he didn't want to deal with the pain. Terry looked at his watch, which read 11:30PM. "I have to get home."

The trio left the arcade and on the car ride home, he thought about what Nelson had said. His hand gripped the steering wheel. Nelson was a jerk. "Don't let him get to you, McGinnis, he's a loser." Suddenly his mind went to him and Max. They were good friends. She was to him the coolest girl on the planet. There was no one else he trusted most with his personal life and feelings than her. When he had looked at her in the arcade, he felt butterflies. Just what was going on with him? Was it possible he had deeper feelings beyond friendship for Max? He shook his head. It was silly, or was it? "Ugh, something new to add to my plate, just great."

He made his way to his bed and passed out as soon as he hit the pillow. He had a lot to think about, especially with graduation around the corner. Max was going to college, and he probably wouldn't see her for a while. Why did it bother him so much?