Part 2

Max and Isabel drove to Michael's, where they were picking up Tess and him. They walked in, knowing they didn't have to knock. It was a total frenzy inside.

"Did you see my tie?" Michael called out.

"Did you see my shoes?" Tess called back. "In the bathroom," she answered him.

"In the kitchen," he returned.

"What are they doing in the kitchen?"

"I don't know." Tess walked out of her room, finally seeing Max and Isabel.

"Hi!" she greeted them, a bit flushed.

"Everything okay?" Max asked her with a grin.

"Oh yeah, sure!" she insisted as she ran to the kitchen to get her shoes. Her hair was done, but she was still in her bathrobe. "You better find a good reason to explain the kitchen shoes," she called to Michael. She stole another quick glance at Max, feeling herself blush at how he looked in his suit. Isabel turned to her brother.

"What time do we have reservations for?" she asked him.

"We'll be there on time," he answered her.

"Right." Just then, Michael came out of his room. He had his pants on, his shirt wasn't buttoned yet, his hair not quite fixed, and he was barefoot. Isabel perked up at the sight of him. He had about the same reaction to her, stunned to silence at her appearance.

"Hi," both said at once, causing them to smile.

"I better finish getting ready," he said.

"Okay," she nodded. He went to the bathroom, returning to his room after he'd retrieved his tie. She was still in the kind of trance she'd entered when Michael had come in. Max let out a bit of a chuckle, but tried to hide it. "Shut up," she blushed as she looked away.

"Okay," he smiled. Minutes later, Michael and Tess exited their rooms at the exact same time. There were speechless smiles all around as the couples observed their respective loved ones.

Isabel was wearing a velvet black dress with blue tones near the top and spaghetti straps. Her hair was loosely and wavily resting on her shoulders. She wore the ruby pendant with matching earrings that Michael had given her to wear that morning.

Tess had a strapless black top, her hair up with ringlets here and there. She wore a yellow skirt, with a kind of flowery pattern. The edge was uneven, ending at her knee on one side and inches below it on the other, with strings of beads lining it.

Both Max and Michael were in coat and tie. The girls had pleaded for a while and they'd finally said yes. The resulting look had left them breathless.

They went to the car arm in arm with their girlfriend or boyfriend and drove to the restaurant. Once they were seated, they were still a bit uncomfortable, but they were okay.

"Well... this is so..." said Tess.

"What?" asked Max.

"The four of us... sitting here on our six month anniversaries," she smiled.

"Yeah," said Isabel as she smiled to Michael, "But it's a nice feeling."

"I wish Nasedo was here... sometimes... he'd, he'd be proud, I bet," said Tess, brushing a tear away.

"I'm sure he would," said Max as he took her hand. She smiled at him. Isabel turned to Michael with a sudden grin.

"So... what WERE the shoes doing in the kitchen?

"Yeah, Michael," said Max as he and Tess smiled anxiously.

"Not a word," Michael said, shaking his head. They continued to try to get it out of him, but nothing came. They had their dinner, laughed from time to time when one would say something funny. A while later, they paid and headed out. They got into the car, Max and Tess in front, Michael and Isabel in the back. The two couples talked as Max drove them towards Michael's.

"Tonight was great," Tess smiled to Max.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"So is that gift that we talked about for..."

"Yeah, I got it," she nodded.

"You did? That's great."

"Yeah, it kinda is."

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"No, no, it's just... after I give... the present..." He smiled.

"It'll be fine. You'll adjust."

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I am," he grinned.

"Very funny," she smiled as she rolled her eyes. "You look great tonight," she smirked.

"Thanks. You look awesome too," he looked to her. She blushed and looked down a bit.

"Thank you."

"And there's the finishing touch..." he said.

"What?" she asked confused.

"You're blushing," he indicated.

"Oh..." she said, trying to hide it.

"No, don't... I like it..." he smiled.

"O-okay," she said, removing her hands. "Max..."

"What?"

"Do you ever..." She stopped.

"What is it?"

"It's nothing. Forget I said anything."

"Tess... it's okay."

"It's just... silly." She looked up at him. "Do you ever... regret this... us."

"Never, of course I don't," he insisted, "Why, do you?"

"No! No, I don't..." She laughed. "It's just me thinking too much as usual." He smiled.

"I haven't, I don't, I won't ever regret this. I love you, Tess." She blushed harder.

"Love you too, Max." They were silent and happy for a few seconds. "So... if you love me so much, can I know what my Christmas present is?" she asked casually.

"Nice try," he shook his head and smiled.

"Not even a hint?"

"Sorry."

"Oh well," she sighed.

"You'll like it... I hope." She smiled.

"Okay."

In the backseat, Isabel sat close to Michael, her head on his shoulder. "Thank you," she said.

"For what?" he asked.

"Coat and tie... you look great in them."

"Thanks. I gotta be honest, though..."

"Can't wait to get out of it, uh?" she winked up at him.

"How'd you guess?" he asked, pulling her closer.

"I'm psychic," she smiled.

"Oh, you are?" he smiled as they kissed. "So what am I thinking now?" he asked. She pretended to think.

"Ah... I think I got it." She kissed him again. "Did I get it?" she asked once they'd parted.

"Bull's eye," he smiled.

"See? Psychic."

"Amazing..." he smiled as they kissed once more.

"So, you remember we're all going Christmas shopping together in a couple days. You, Max, Alex and Kyle go together in one direction. Tess, Liz, Maria and me go the other way."

"Would you let me forget?"

"Um... good point," she smiled.

"It's so nice outside," she said, looking out the window at the passing scenery.

"Christmas is coming," he nodded.

"Our first together," she smiled, "Well... as a couple, I mean. Oh! We need to get some mistletoe!" she exclaimed.

"No argument there," he said as she looked to him with a laugh. "You've been pretty... calm about Christmas this year," he said.

"Well it's still early," she grinned.

"Right. So does that mean I..."

"I'll come pick you up to go buy the tree tomorrow afternoon."

"Right."

"One day..."

"One day... what?"

"You'll come around to my way of thinking, Christmas wise," she said, 'mysteriously'.

"You keep telling yourself that," he said, bringing her still closer as she laughed quietly. Soon they arrived to their destination.

"So who goes first this time?" asked Tess as she looked to the others in the back.

"We'll go... since we're in front," said Max.

"Okay." Max and Tess got out of the car and walked to the door. "Goodnight, Max," she smiled.

"Goodnight." They kissed slowly and Tess went inside. Max returned to the car. Soon after, Michael and Isabel were the ones standing at the door.

"Goodnight," she smiled to him.

"Goodnight," he said as t hey kissed. Once the door had closed behind Michael, Isabel went back to the car, sitting in front with Max. As they drove home, Isabel had a bit of a large grin as she looked to Max.

"What?" he asked defensively.

"You are so whipped," she laughed.

"Shut up," he said quickly. She laughed harder. "Hey, you're not exactly one to talk," he joked.

"Oh, that hurts," she fake-gasped.