[b]True Colors[/b]

[i]Chapter 10[/i]

Max entered the Crashdown nervously, unsure of Liz's reaction on Michael's revelation. Would she understand that they belong together? It must be pretty obvious when even Michael realized it…

He smiled when he saw her walking towards Maria, but his smile weakened when he noticed how flustered she looked. There were bags under her eyes, and her hair had lost some of it's glance. A wave of guilt hit him when he realized that this might all be his fault. That she was so sad because of what he had said to her, what he had done to her. He wanted to smack himself on the head for being so mean to her. She didn't deserve this, especially not when the whole future-thing Michael told him was true.

Someone bumping into him from behind shook him out of his trance. He turned around and apologized to the girl, vaguely recognizing her from his Biology Class. It wasn't his fault that he didn't remember her, though. That was entirely Liz's fault. When he sat next to her in Biology, he could only concentrate on her, and didn't notice anybody else of his class.

He frowned. Did the girl's face just became a shade of darker red? It must be warmer in here than he thought. He heard the girl whispering some sort of apology back and he smiled weakly at her.

When he focused his thoughts on Liz again, he found her standing with Maria, obviously very upset. He started to walk towards them, but after that Maria had looked around the restaurant, and hadn't noticed him, she'd helped Liz to the back. Liz was crying. He was sure of that now. He could feel her hurt and agony, and he shook his head, chastising himself for not paying more attention to her feelings through their connection before. He'd swallowed himself in self-pity and didn't think of the possibility that she also might be hurt.

He sat down in his usual booth in the Crashdown. It was his favorite booth because of several reasons, the most important being that it was in Liz's section. He saw Michael looking at him with a strange expression on his face. It almost seemed compassion or sorrow to Max… Why would that be?

And then Max knew. Michael hadn't been able to convince Liz that they could work things out. He nodded slightly back at Michael, gesturing a greeting, and was about to walk up to him, and ask him how his conversation with Liz had went, but changed directions when he saw Maria coming down.

She looked confused, and a little worried. Would something have happened to Liz?

"Is Liz okay?" he immediately asked her, shooting agonizing looks at the backroom.

"Hi Maria!" Maria replied. "How are you? You look amazing today!" She planted her hands on her thighs. Max sighed. "Hi Maria!" he said, trying to imitate her fake-cheerful voice as good as possible. "How are you? You look amazing today… How is Liz?"

Maria pouted. "You could at least try and say it as if you mean it," she said.

Max smiled at her. "I'm sorry. I'm just really worried about Liz. Is she okay?" he asked concerned.

Maria nodded her head at the backroom. "She's asleep now. She was really upset."

Max sighed. Maria wouldn't give him any more information if he wouldn't tell her what he knew, he was sure of that.

"I know," he confessed. "I know about Future Max or something, and I want to go up and tell Liz that we'll be able to get Tess to stay. Please, Maria," he begged her, "let me see her?"

Maria stood in front of him, mouth agape. "Michael told you, didn't he?" she angry concluded. Max swallowed. Michael would be in for a treat later… He felt sorry for his friend, but it was more important that he would see Liz at the moment. Suddenly, another voice joined in their conversation.

"Yes Maria, I told him. I also told Liz about it, believing that it was true." Michael said.

Max swiveled around. "You mean to say that what you told me [i]wasn't[/i] true?" he asked amazed.

Michael didn't have the chance to answer him, since he was being hit by a very angry Maria. The customers of the Crashdown watched the whole scene, amused with Michael's pleas for mercy and Maria's angry threats.

After a few minutes Michael joined Max's side again, mumbling something like 'what did I do to deserve this?' and then shriveling under Maria's death glare.

Max cleared his throat. "So… What you said about Liz… Is it true, or isn't it?" he asked, fearing the answer.

Maria shook her head, remorsefully. "It was a lie. Liz told me that story because she was ashamed. She was very upset about something [i]you[/i] had done," she said pointing at Max's belly, "and got drunk. Kyle comforted her, and…" she paused, wondering how Liz had put it, "…and one thing led to another. She's so confused about it all…" She glanced at Max, hoping that he wouldn't take it too bad.

Max looked deeply immersed in thoughts, and he shook his head. "Why would she have made up such a story? It would have even been too far-fetched for you to make it up."

Maria shot him an angry look. "Friendly today, aren't we?" she said.

She sighed. "Look, I don't know why she made it up. All I know is that she's immensely hurt at the moment."

Max carefully pushed her out of his way, intending to go up and see Liz when Michael stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going?" he growled.

Max looked at him in surprise. Since when did Michael care so much about Liz? He saw that Maria was also surprised. He thought he saw jealousy flicker in her eyes, but he wasn't sure. Why would she be… Suddenly it dawned to him. Maria thought that Michael and Liz… He had to stifle a laugh that was welling up. Michael and Liz? Hmpf… Yeah, right, and he was the Pope…

"I'm going upstairs to check on her," he said, realizing that Michael was still waiting for an answer, "and tell her I'm sorry."

Michael shook his head. "She needs her sleep, Maxwell. It can wait. You'll see her later," he said, the tone of his voice making clear that he didn't tolerate any contradiction.

"I [i]need[/i] to see her, Michael," Max stressed. "It can [i]not[/i] wait." He looked at an unmoved Michael. "Please?" he begged his friend.

Michael glanced at him, and this time Max was sure there was sorrow in his eyes.

"Okay," he agreed. "But you can't stay too long. I'll go first and ask if she's ready to see you, okay?"

He didn't wait for Max's reply, but just mounted the stairs.

"Whatever," Max mumbled, not pleased at all with Michael's sudden interest in Liz.