Part 1

The Next Day at School, March 10, 2000

I see Max at the quad with Isabel and Michael. Michael doesn't smile upon our relationship, if you can even call it one, yet I smile warmly at Max. He returns the smile and gets up to come to me, but of course Michael puts his hand out to block Max's way. Why does he have to mess up things between us? Just because things are going rocky with Maria doesn't mean he can do those things to us. I sigh. I don't really want to go over there. I feel like I'm going to be shunned by Michael and be glared at by Isabel. Even with the things we have been through, I think Isabel still thinks I'm going to take her brother away. I told her that once, when we were at a gas station off of 285 South, but I guess she's only protecting him. I frown in disappointment and he motions towards the Eraser Room. I laugh quietly, noticing that Maria and Alex have noticed our silent conversation. I shake my head no. I don't want to get caught again. Even though I really want to, I fight to control the urge. He then frowns. Michael throws me a look and I immediately focus my attention on Alex and Maria.

"Giving each other the secret looks again?" Maria asks. She looks at Michael and he looks away. Once again they are playing the cat and mouse game that they are all too familiar with.

"What?" I ask. I'm still thinking about the possibilities of Max and I in the closet. All the things we could have done.

"Yeah they were. You know Maria, if this keeps going on we may have to bring Liz to the love hospital. To cure the insanity. Then maybe monkeys will attack everyone with grapefruits..." Alex says waving his hand in front of my face.

I jump out of my trance and realize that my two best friends are laughing at me. I laugh with them as I pull out my bag of baby carrots and frown at the snack my mom has given me. You would think that because I lived above a restaurant fully stocked with delicious goodies I would get something more appealing then carrots. I shrug my shoulders and begin throwing them at Maria and Alex. Alex catches one in his mouth and puts his hands up in victory. We both laugh at his attempts at doing a victory dance. They are both very different. The bubbly blonde and the computer geek. But then you have me, the science nerd.

The bell to end the lunch hour rings and we gather our stuff and head towards the main building. I can feel Max coming closer to me. I feel a warm hand on my elbow as he gently pushes me off to the side. In the corner of my eye I see Maria and Alex, both laughing warmly.

I look up at Max and try to think of something smooth to say, but I can't, so "Hey" works.

"Hey," he responds. "Isabel is going to get a ride with one of her friends. Can I give you a ride?"

Max looks so hot. The way his hair is, the way his shirt wears on his chest... I can't help but look. "Sure, Max, I'd love that."

He walks me to my next class and he gives me a warm but quick kiss before he leaves to his own class.

I think I need Novocain. That kiss was so wonderful. I haven't seen Max in a couple of days, so that kiss was like bliss. I now have something to look forward to after school.

During class, I space off a little. Thinking of you-know-who. Maria nudges me and I turn to face her.

"What are you doing after your shift today?" she whispers.

"I don't know. I guess I'll be staying in," I answer back, looking at our teacher to make sure she isn't looking.

"Do you wanna hang out with me and Alex? We were planning on renting a movie. You know, some chick flick that Alex will hate watching, but at the end will admit to loving. What do you think?" Her eyes plead with me. I give in and nod a yes.

She smiles and faces the front doodling on her notebook. I look out the window, counting down until I can see Max again.



The Crashdown

It's working time, and Maria and I are busy with the tables. It's the usual crowd, not too busy, not too quiet. We take our break and start our homework. The usual Thursday.

Max, Isabel, and Michael walk in and I feel like I have more energy, more life. They seat themselves in their normal spot, in my section. Maria looks up from her notebook and sees Michael. She really wants to ring him. She's kind of angry at the response Michael gave her back at the rave. He didn't want to get involved. But I told her he does like her, but he doesn't want to hurt her. She shrugs her shoulders.

I get up to go take their order, when I feel Maria by my side. I give her the secret smile we share. I know the reason she wants to come with me. She wants to see Michael, and this is the only good way to see him without making it obvious.

I tell them the usual spiel. They order the usual. Saturn Fries and Cherry Cokes.

We return, give them their order and I ask Maria, "Was that successful?"

She sits again and put her head in her hands. "He looks hotter and hotter everyday." She gets up, goes to the ice cream machine and put her mouth underneath the valve that the ice cream comes out of. This is usually done when she's confused and wants a brain freeze.

"Chocolate or vanilla?" I ask nonchalantly.

"Both," she says. She closes her eyes and welcomes the coldness of the ice cream.

We go into the back room and lay on the couch. Max walks into the back room and I quickly stand. "Can we go somewhere private?" he asks.

"Yeah sure, is my room ok?" I ask.

He nods and holds my hand as we head upstairs. I know Maria is going to feel neglected, so I yell, "I promise, tonight!" She heads to the ice cream machine again.

Max pulls me into my room and he puts his mouth on mine and brings me into bliss. In between gasps he asks me, "What's tonight?"

He puts his warm mouth on my neck and I manage to say, "Maria.... Alex.... movie.... tonight."

Something is happening in my body that I can't explain. Everything is happening so fast. I start to straighten up when Max notices my body reaction. We pull apart from each other. "Max, things are happening too fast, we should slow down."

"But I want to be with you, Liz," Max says. He moves my hair behind my ear.

"So do I Max, but things are sorta..."

"Weird," he finishes.

"Yeah" is my response, as I try to gather all the air I can. I should carry around a mini air tank with me, for these spur of the moment things.

I sit on the edge of my bed as he pulls up a chair. "It's just, I think things are moving too fast. First with the Eraser Room, and the detention we got."

"I understand, Liz. I do, but I want us to be together and if you think that I'm pressuring you...well, please know that I'm not," Max said. He gives me a small smile.

"Thanks, Max, I want to take things slow." I look at him and I give him a quick peck on the lips.

"Tease," he says.

We go downstairs and Michael has already devoured his food. Isabel is pecking at hers and looking at Alex. She gives him the mixed signals, which Alex is completely confused by.

Max lets go of my hand and says, "I'll see you at school."

He goes back, and I hear Michael ask him, "What went on?"

"Oh, school stuff."

Michael nods and looks at me and knows that he's lying. I feel the glare and go meet up with Alex. My shift is just about over as is Maria's.

"Liz, hey, ok, 'Planet of the Apes' or 'Black Hawk Down'? Both have dreamy guys for you and Maria, and the action for me," Alex says.

I adore him. I adore everything about Alex. The way he knows what to say and the way he can read both of us perfectly. Well, until recently he has been able to do that. I kept the secret of Max, Isabel, and Michael from him. And that was the end of our relationship. But now he accepts it and can put together all the weird moments between the six of us.

"Um, whatever you want. We should get going. I have to be home early today, since it's a school night," I tell him.

Maria comes out from the back. She has a grin on her face which only suggests she did something bad or extremely good. "Liz, chica, since you have been sucked into the alien abyss and so have you Alex, would it be ok if we sleep over at Alex's? You know, gossip about the latest things, exclude the Czechs, do the usual non Czechs things."

"Um, sure, my dad wouldn't mind. Liz?" Alex says, slinging his bag back over his shoulder.

"Um---" I started, but of course Maria interrupted. It wouldn't be a conversation without Maria cutting in, but of course it's all in good intentions.

"I already asked your parents," Maria said smiling and moving around in a happy dance sorta thing.

That's why she was grinning before. See, that's Maria for you.

It's eight o' clock, and we finished watching 'Planet of the Apes', which wasn't that bad. It's bathroom break time for me and as I go up the stairs I feel a little faint. I continue going up, clutching my stomach in pain. I guess those extra Goobers weren't a good idea after all.

I enter the highly lit bathroom and I edge myself towards the bathtub. I was never able to puke in a toilet, that just makes it grosser. I lean over it and feel the food I ate coming out. After a few minutes of vomiting today's food I go to the sink and wash out my mouth. I hear Alex and Maria outside, asking, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah," I groan out. I look in the mirror and notice that I don't look ok. I have dark bags under my eyes. My skin is a sickly color. My head hurts now. It's pulsating. I sit on the rug and bring my legs to my chest I hug them lightly and close my eyes.

Flashes of Max enter my mind for some reason and I feel myself getting better. The headache is now distant. I stand up and stand there for a minute. This is so weird. I go over the to tub and run the water, allowing all the food and fluids in the tub to wash out.

With this done, I exit the bathroom. I still feel shaky, but not as bad as before. I go down the stairs and hold onto the railing for support. Alex looks up from the sofa and rushes over to help me. He holds onto my arm and guides me to the sofa. I sit down and Maria kneels in front of me. "You ok, chica? We heard you upstairs."

"Not really. I don't know, maybe it was something I ate," I say. The Goober theory is still fresh in my mind, but that doesn't leave out the Max flashes.

"Do you want to go to sleep?" Alex asks me as he hands me a glass of water.

"No, I was looking forward to 'Black Hawk Down'." I take a big gulp of the water and let the after taste of the vomit leave.

"Let me make you some tea before it starts. It will make you feel better," Maria says. Leave it to Mommy Maria to make you feel better.

Alex turns off the lights and takes a seat on the lounge chair. Maria comes back just as the movie begins.

The day catches up to me and I stretch my legs. I nestle my head on the soft pillow and I close my eyes. I guess 'Black Hawk Down' will have to wait.

It's the day of the shooting. I see myself and Maria. Then cut to the shooting. I fall on the floor. Max rushes to the my side and places his hand on the wound. He makes the connection.

I'm dying.

I feel myself pulling away. I'm trying to stay connected, but it's not as strong. Things are blurry, everything now is bright. I see a figure by Max. It's a man in a dark suit. A black suit. He says in a whisper, "It's time."

"Time for what?" I ask. Max doesn't hear me, no one does.

Who is he?

"Time to go home." He stretches his arm out to me.

I have no choice but to give him my hand. He holds my hand gently and we begin to exit the Crashdown.

Something pulls me back. Something very strong. My uniform is now clean. I feel strong pains now, circulating my whole body. I see the man and his eyes are very wide. He doesn't know what to do. He walks towards me and tries to take me to wherever we were going. "It's your time, what is he doing to you?"

I turn around and I am floating towards Max, towards my body on the floor.

I blink my eyes and I'm on the cold floor. I look up as Max takes a bottle of ketchup and breaks it, spilling it on my uniform.

The man is still there. He has the most petrified look on his face. He keeps saying, "It was your time, it was your time."

I try to speak to him, but Maria steps in his path and talks to me.

I try to answer him, ask him what's wrong. But I can't. He isn't there anymore.

I wake up from the dream. I realize it's two a.m. I'm in a bed and I'm covered in sweat. I sit up and look around. I wonder where I am, but I remember I'm staying over at Alex's house. I glance at the calendar for some reason and see the days crossed out and today's date is also crossed out. I squint at it. Maybe I'm still sleepy and I read it wrong, it doesn't change, it's crossed out. I remove my arm from under the covers and realize my watch isn't there. I look to the night stand and pick it up. I look for the date and it says March 12.