PART 2
Liz came down to the Crashdown the next morning. She
stood outside, just looking at it. She thought about
all the memories. All her friends...Max. She thought
about the many times the gang all gathered at the
Crashdown. The many times Liz and Max had been alone
together there. She couldn't take it. She missed him
so much! How would she ever deal with the loss of Max
Evans? Liz decided to forget about Max, even if it was
just for one day. She wanted to have fun. She walked
through the door to the Crashdown.
"Maria? Maria, where are you?" Liz called.
"In the kitchen! I'll be right out!" Maria replied.
Maria came out of the kitchen with her keys in her
hand.
"Let's go." she said.
"Ummmm, okay, where exactly are we going?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out." Maria
told Liz smugly.
"Here, put this on." Maria said as she handed Liz a
bandana.
"What's this for?" Liz asked.
"It's a blindfold. Here, I'll help you."
"What's going on Maria?" Liz asked again, getting
excited.
"I told you, it's a surprise."
The car ride wasn't long, but to Liz it felt like an
eternity.
"Why do I smell fish?" Liz asked.
"I don't know, why do you smell fish?" Maria asked,
smiling.
"Are we there yet?"
"Not quite."
Maria drove a little further and parked the Jetta in
the shade. It was sunny out, and it was gonna be a
long day. Maria helped Liz out of the car and insisted
she keep the blindfold on for a little while longer.
The two girls walked for a little while and finally
Maria stopped. Liz was really anxious to find out just
what Maria was doing. As Liz was thinking about what
this day could possibly bring, she heard:
"Surprise! Happy birthday Liz!"
Liz pulled off the blindfold and saw the whole gang
standing around her. Liz was shocked. She couldn't
believe she had forgotten about her own birthday. She
was so happy. Maria was the best friend ever.
"OMG, I had no idea! You guys are so sweet! Thank
you!"
"No prob Liz, happy birthday." Alex said.
Liz hugged Alex and Maria.
"I can't believe this! I don't even have any of my
stuff!"
"Yeah ya do Liz. I got it all from your mom before you
got home from school yesterday. I knew you wouldn't
miss it. So let's change and start tanning, girls!"
Maria said.
Liz, Isabel, and Tess all followed Maria to the
changing room. Max, Michael, Alex and Kyle got changed
and found a spot on the beach, then Alex went back to
wait for the girls. Liz and Maria were talking in the
changing room and Liz couldn't seem to get over what
Maria had done.
"Thank you sooooooooooo much Maria, I can't believe
you did this!" Liz squealed.
"Liz, you're my very best friend in the whole wide
world. You've been really down lately. I knew I had to
cheer you up somehow. The guys in bathing suits, now
that was just a bonus."
Liz and Maria walked out of the changing room. Tess,
Isabel and Alex were already waiting for them.
Together they all walked to where the guys were
sitting. Maria put her towel down next to Michael's
and began tanning. Liz sat next to her. After about
half an hour Alex and Kyle were getting impatient.
They wanted to go swimming and it was no fun without
girls to throw around. Tess was ready to go as well,
so Liz and Maria got up to join them. Max came as
well, and even Isabel replied to everyone's pleas for
her to come with them. The guys and Tess all jumped
into the water, but Maria went in slowly and Liz dived
in and swam laps to get warm. Max watched Liz in the
water.
*She's so beautiful. Even the way she swims is
beautiful. *
The sun shined on Liz's wet hair, and Max longed to
touch it. To touch her. He missed her. As he glanced
at Kyle, and saw he was preoccupied with a giggling
Tess, something told him that that day was going to be
a good day.
Once everyone was in the water, the guys
started to get playful. First Michael swam towards
Maria and pulled her under. In an attempt to
retaliate, Maria tried to push Michael down, but he
was too strong for her. He picked her up and threw
her. By this time everyone was fooling around and
trying to attack each other. Max and Isabel, Alex and
Liz, Michael and Maria, Tess and Kyle. This changed
frequently however. Isabel and Alex fooled around a
lot in the water, despite her claims that he was
ruining her hair. Tess and Kyle were constantly
engulfed in laughter, except, of course when they were
under water. All of a sudden Liz felt herself being
picked up and thrown. When she finally emerged again,
she was standing directly in front of Max. That alone
almost caused her to lose her balance. Max, not
completely realizing what he was doing at the time,
put his arms around Liz's waist affectionately. He
then proceeded to pick her up, spin her around and
toss her towards Alex. This went on and on, girls
kicking and screaming happily, guys laughing and picking
up the girls only to throw them to eager recipients. To
everyone's enjoyment it lasted quite a while longer.
Kyle and Liz, Maria and Alex, Alex and Isabel, Michael
and Tess, Liz and Max, Isabel and Max, Alex and Tess,
Michael and Maria, Liz and Alex, etc. It just kept going.
After a while though, everyone got tired. So, they
retreated back to their spot on the sand and
had a picnic lunch.
"Time for presents!" Maria shouted as soon as lunch
was over.
"OMG, you guys got me presents?!? I can't believe
this! What did I do to deserve friends like you? You
are all so great!" Liz exclaimed.
"Who's first?" Maria asked.
"Me first, me first!" Alex yelled.
"Okay, Alex first." Liz said, smiling happily she
opened her first present. It was a brand new
journal with Liz's name and the signatures of
everyone she knew on the cover.
"Oh Alex, this is sooooooo great! Thank you sooooo
much! I love it" Liz squealed. Then she ran to Alex
and kissed him on the cheek. Next came Tess's
present. Tess got Liz a book about famous women
scientists. Liz thanked Tess as cordially as possible,
and went on opening gifts.
"This one's from Isabel."
Isabel had gotten Liz some really cool earrings that
she had seen at the mall. Isabel hoped Liz
would like them.
"OMG, Isabel, these are so cool! I love them! Thank
you!" Isabel was happy with Liz's reaction and they
kept on opening gifts. Next Liz opened Kyle's gift.
"Kyle, how did you know I love Dido? This CD is great;
I've wanted it forever! Thanks!" Liz went up to Kyle
and gave him an affectionate hug and a quick kiss.
Max could feel the jealousy seeping into his veins.
Next was Michael's present. No one really expected
anything decent, but with Michael you never know.
Liz was surprised to find that Michael had gotten her
a beautiful Japanese hair clip.
"Michael this is wonderful! Where did you find it?"
"Actually, I found it at a thrift shop near where I
work. I thought it would look nice in your hair."
"Oh, well thank you, Michael." Liz said, shaking her
head and laughing with the others.
"It's my turn!" Maria said. "Here Liz, from me to
you."
Maria handed Liz her present.
"Ooooooh, what could it be?" Liz wondered out loud.
Liz opened the gift slowly, yet she was anxious to see
what it was. Liz's mouth dropped open in surprise when
she saw what Maria had gotten her. It was an
autographed picture of Dido along with six tickets to
her concert the next month. The package also contained
an autographed T-shirt and a limo receipt.
"OMG! Maria how did you...when did you....." Liz
stammered.
"I won this contest on the radio. However, the limo
ride is from yours truly. I told Kyle to buy you the
CD so you could get it signed. You have backstage
passes too! Are you happy?" Maria asked
"Oh totally! I'm psyched! Thank you Maria!" Liz gave
her friend a big hug. The two girls laughed. Maria was
beaming.
"Don't forget about Max's present." Alex said.
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe I almost forgot about
your present, Max." Liz said, blushing. She wondered
what Max had gotten her. He had always given her
wonderful presents...when they were dating. Liz
wondered if Max was still bitter. *Why wouldn't he be?*
Liz thought. *He has every reason to be.*
Liz opened this present quickly. She was anxious to
get everyone's eyes off of her. When she took
off the wrapping paper, Liz found a box. She opened
it, and inside was a gorgeous gold necklace with a
small ruby pendant in the shape of a heart. Whatever
it was Liz had been expecting, it certainly wasn't
this. Liz looked up at Max with tears forming in her
eyes.
"It's beautiful." She managed to choke out. Liz ran up
to Max and hugged him. Max was upset that Liz was
crying, but overjoyed when she hugged him. He
desperately wanted Liz to stay in his arms forever.
Little did he know that that is just what Liz wanted
too. After a few long seconds, Max pulled away from
Liz. Liz gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and
whispered 'thank you' in his ear. Liz thanked everyone
again for all the great gifts. After the party was
over, the girls started to sunbathe again and all the
guys read magazines and talked with the each other.
Before they knew it, it was almost eight o'clock and the
sun was about to set. Everyone headed to the changing
rooms for showers and blow dryers. Once everyone was
done, people proceeded to cars. Alex, Liz and Kyle all
went in Alex's car. Michael, Isabel and Tess went in
the Jetta, and Maria and Max took the jeep.
Liz sat in the backseat with Kyle while Alex drove.
"So Liz," Kyle said, "How are things between you and
Max?"
"What do you mean? We're broken up. You know. It
happened right after..." Liz trailed off.
"Well yeah, I know...about the break up, but...but I
was wondering if you two were still, you know,
friends. I mean, is there still a chance you'll get
back together?" Kyle asked.
"Ummmmmmm, well...I don't really know...I mean no I,
um, I don't think so." Liz replied regretfully.
"Oh." Kyle said.
"Yeah." Liz replied.
Michael was driving the Jetta, Tess and Iz were
sitting in the backseat talking about girly stuff.
"We should really do our nails together sometime."
Tess told Isabel.
"Yeah, I do Michael's all the time, don't I Michael?"
Isabel replied.
"Yeah, right. I don't do nails."Michael said
sarcastically. Isabel ignored Michael's rude comments.
"Well, maybe we could go on Saturday."
"Yeah that would be fun." Tess answered.
Max was in the driver's seat and Maria was sitting
beside him.
*How on Earth did we come up with this seating
arrangement?* Max wondered. Maria, talkative as
always, started the conversation.
"So, Max. What's up?"
"Nothing much. The usual."
"Did you have fun at the beach?"
"Yeah it was really great. Do you think Liz liked my
gift?"
"Are you kidding? The girl was practically in tears!
The necklace was gorgeous!"
"You don't think it was...too much? I mean, I bought
it for her before we broke up. It was going to be a
Valentine's Day gift."
"Max, the gift was spectacular. Let's just leave it at
that. You could really teach Michael a little
something about romance. No, really...could you?"
Maria asked him. Max laughed.
"Max I've noticed you've been kind of depressed
lately, ya know?"
"Yeah, I guess I have been a-"
"Yeah," Maria cut him off. "Well, Liz has been too and
it's killing me to see her like this. I have to tell
you something Max. Something really important."
"What do you mean, Maria?"
"It's about you and Liz. Your...umm...relationship.
"What about it? Am I gonna need some air after I hear
this 'news'?"
"Quite possibly actually. It's a lot to take in.
Especially while driving..."
"I'm pulling over."
"Good. Now, just for the record, I'm doing this for
Liz. Even though she's gonna hate me for it later.
Anyways, that's not the point. Here goes..."
Maria told Max everything. She told him about Future
Max, the betrayal, the lies, the feelings... Max was
amazed and shocked, but most of all happy. He couldn't
understand how he had been so blind. He should have
seen it in her eyes. Max knew Liz inside and out, Liz
couldn't lie. She was terrible at it. Max obviously
hadn't been paying her any attention or he would have
known. He should have known! After Maria told Max
Liz's story, Max poured his heart out to Maria. He
told her everything. How his anger and depression had
been building up inside of him. How every time he saw
Liz he felt like he couldn't live without her. Max
told Maria all his troubles, all his thoughts. He
poured out his 'bottle'. Afterwards he felt so happy,
so light, and so relieved. It was a wonderful feeling.
Maria felt so content with the look on Max's face that
she completely forgot about how Liz would react when
she found out.