Liz followed Max into the school where she'd spent four years studying and working so hard.

The party was being held in the cafeteria but Liz had insisted to take a look around first. So they went to see their old lockers.

When they stopped at hers, Liz reached out and touched it.

"It feels weird being back here, doesn't it?" Max asked.

"It sure does," Liz agreed. "It brings back so many memories."

She ran her fingers across the locker next to hers. "This was her locker you know."

"I remember," Max said and took Liz's hand in his. "You two used to always stand here and talk and giggle. And then Michael and I would come and you would kiss me, and Maria and Michael would ignore each other."

Liz smiled when she remembered the love and hate relationship between her two friends. Eventually the love had won, but just in time for the accident to take it all away. Just like that, so unfair.

"Are you ready to go inside?" Max asked, kissing her hand.

"Yeah, I guess. It's just that this place is so sentimental. I mean, this is where Maria was most alive. Among friends and with all the people around her," Liz said. "I know it's been a long time, but…"

"Hey, it's okay," Max reassured her. "I know how you feel. It doesn't matter how much time goes by, we're still going to miss her."

"Yeah I guess so."

"So let's go. Tess told me Kyle was coming back for the reunion," Max said and started walking towards the cafeteria with Liz right beside him.

"That's great, it's been a long time since we've seen him," Liz said, a little happier…

Kyle opened the door to the school cafeteria. The place was smacked full with people. The place was decorated with pictures from their high school years and wherever you'd turn you saw banderoles that read "class of 2002".

"So how does it feel being back here?" Kyle asked as he escorted Tess to a table. He couldn't believe how great it felt to meet her again. To see how beautiful she looked in that light blue strap-less dress.

"Let's just say I'm glad high school is over for me," Tess answered and smiled. "I mean, sure we had some great times here, but I don't miss all the teachers and classes."

"I agree," Kyle said. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"You know what? This kind of reminds me of the prom we attended together in school," Tess said.

"You mean the one where I realized I looked at you like a sister?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah," Tess confirmed. "But forget I brought that up, let's not lock backwards, let's see what surprises this night will bring instead."

"How poetic said," Kyle joked.

"Yeah, yeah Buddha-boy. Go get my punch now…"

Isabel grabbed hers and Alex's nametags and put hers on and gave the other to her boyfriend. Michael had thrown his tag in the garbage already.

"Let's go!" she said enthusiastically. "I can't wait to see the others."

She and Alex lived in New York now so they didn't get to see Max and the others so often. Sure, they talked on the phone and so, but is wasn't the same.

Isabel grabbed both Alex and Michael's hands and dragged them into the cafeteria.

She looked around the room and soon she spotted two familiar faces.

"Kyle! Tess!" she screamed across the room. The two friends caught sight of Isabel and went over there with smiles on their faces.

"Hi Isabel!" Tess said happily when she hugged her hard. "It's so great to see you again."

Then Tess gave Alex a hug while Kyle embraced Isabel.

Michael and Kyle said a manly hello to each other and Tess gave Michael a hug.

"So how are you guys doing?" Isabel asked as the five friends moved over to Kyle and Tess's table. "I haven't talked to you on the phone for some time now."

"I know, but I'm fine," Tess answered. "And Kyle just arrived here tonight so that's great."

"Yeah, we've been following your career," Alex said turned to Kyle. "Who knew that you Valenti would make it big time," he joked.

"About as many as who thought you would get together with someone like Isabel," Kyle said. "Which would be slim to nothing."

Isabel laughed. Already the men were kidding around like always.

"So have you seen my dear brother and his wife around?" Isabel asked.

"Actually I think I just saw them entering," Tess said and pointed towards the door.

"There they are," Isabel said. "Max! Liz! Here we are!" she screamed over to them.

"Someone's happy to be back in school again," Kyle commented.

"Maybe that's because she ruled the school," Alex said.

"Hey!" Isabel said and tried to sound offended. "I'm just glad that we're all together."

"Not all," Michael said quietly, but enough for the others to hear.

Isabel immediately regretted what she said, but now it was too late.

Michael thought of Maria.

When Max and Liz reached the table, several hugs and hellos were exchanged.

When they were all seated their conversation were interrupted by the voice in a microphone. Everyone's heads turned to the little stage in the room, where Pam Troy was standing.

"Hello everyone and welcome to the 5 years reunion with the class of 2002," she greeted them. Applauds could be heard before she continued.

"Tonight we're going to have a good time and get to know each other again. We are going to crown a king and a queen…"

"Oh please, aren't we adults," Alex muttered and rolled his eyes while Isabel smiled.

"And we're going to see who has become most successful and who's changed the most," Pam said. "And lots and lots of more, but first just enjoy the food and have a great time!"

Isabel looked across the room at Michael. Maybe it had been wrong of her to take him here tonight. He looked like he was having about as much fun as Isabel had whenever a political discussion came up. Which was not fun.

But it had been almost five years since Maria's death and Isabel wanted Michael to get his life back. But she understood him. Isabel couldn't bare the thought of ever loosing someone that close to her. Sure, she'd been close to Maria too, but not like Michael.

She looked at him again and this time he returned her gaze and then quickly looked away…

Michael couldn't take this anymore. He had to get out of the room now.

He excused himself to go to the bathroom and soon he was alone out in the corridor. The same corridor where he had seen Maria everyday for four years.

And even though you couldn't see it on his outside, he shined up every time. She kind of had that glow around her that made him happy and hopeful.

And Michael also remembered the times when they would argue about something and she would get angry and look so adorable.

Of course he never told her this, that would spoil the fun.

Michael opened the door to the bathroom and went in. He made sure that nobody was in there and then he used his powers to keep the door locked, so that he wouldn't get any company.

He looked himself in the mirror and laughed. He hadn't really cared about his appearance since the accident. His hair was hanging loose to his shoulders and he had this beard cause he hadn't shaved for weeks.

He would probably look even worse if it hadn't been for Tess. She came by his place often and kept him company and sometimes she would drag him to the Crashdown just so that he would get out of the apartment.

He had become a really pathetic person since Maria died.

"Why is so hard?" he suddenly burst out to his reflection. "Why can't you just pull yourself together? You're pathetic, man."

It was just that today was not a good day. School reminded him of the times he had with her. "It's so unfair that she's not here today," he continued. "She would have loved to meet everyone and to be with all of her friends. Couldn't I've been the one to go instead?"

"I think it's harder to be left behind," a very familiar voice suddenly said.

"Maria?" Michael asked and turned around…

TBC...    Please tell me what you think!