"It didn't work!"

"What do you mean it didn't work?"

"I mean it didn't work!"

"You said the girl had a major influence over the both of them!"

"Not any more!"

"If you just stuck to the plan earlier instead of taking matters into your own hands, we wouldn't have had to resort to this!"

"If you didn't have to go off and pretend to die, we would already be home, and I would have my husband back!"

"How dare you!"

"No! You're supposed to bow down to me, I'm your queen you imbecile, and you better treat me like one!"

He gave her a grave look, resentment surging through his entire body. His tone was sarcastic as he spoke, making sure Tess knew where she stood, and that she was only queen when they got back to Antar and she was with Max. At this point in time, the human had more chance of being queen than she did. "What do you suppose we do, your majesty?"

"I don't know! He won't let me in his mind. If he just relaxed for once, I could get in there and change everything, but he keeps on resisting! Maria was theoretically the way to both of them, but obviously we overestimated how much value her thoughts actually have on both of them! There's always Liz…"

"But if you did something to her, Zan would realise what was going on! We have already been through all of this, we need to try something different!"

"Have any ideas, or are you just here to point out the obvious?"
"I never remember thinking that! I've always thought they were great together, you know that! The suddenly, I was yelling at him, telling him that he needed to brake up with her and be with Tess! Agh! I hate Tess! I would never even wish her upon my worst enemy, who ironically just happens to be Tess! Michael, what happened to me? It was as if all of a sudden I was taken over by someone else, and before I knew it, all these thoughts and feelings that were never ever mine had come out of my mouth!"

"Have you tried to talk to them about it?"

"I can't get either of them alone to talk to them! Michael, it wasn't me, I promise you I would never wish that they were apart. Max makes Liz so happy, why would I want to ruin her life like that?"

He placed his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She had been here all night, trying to explain what had happened. Maria nuzzled her head into his chest, tired from all of the endless arguing with herself. He rested his chin on her head, pulling her closer while he stroked her hair. He had a fair idea of what had happened to her, after all it wouldn't of been the first time Tess had tried something like this, but he had to talk to Max first, he had to hear his side of the story.
He opened his eyes to a beautiful sight. The sun was making her skin glow as she slept peacefully next to him, her head resting on his chest as her hand held his. His thoughts went back to the amazing night they had just lived. They had almost gone all the way, but he pulled away before he lost control. It was too risky, his parents were in the room across the hall, and Isabel was upstairs. Instead they lay there, entwined in each other's bodies, never breaking the kiss, and eventually falling asleep in each other's arms.

He watched as her eyes opened slowly, taking in the room around her, and finally settling on his own eyes. Her hands brushed over the skin on his chest, his muscles relaxing with her soft touch. Their lips met vehemently, the kiss lasting for what seemed like an eternity, only to be ended due to lack of breath. She looked down at the shirt lying on the floor, creased and in a pile next to her pants. The shirt she was now wearing was swimming on her, acting as a nightie. The material against her skin smelt of him, not only because it was his shirt, but also because she had just spent an entire night in his bed. Liz looked at the clock beside his bed. Not wanting to hear the words come out of his mouth, she said them instead, hoping it would make the pain of leaving this bed less agonizing.

"I should go before my parents send out a search party!"

"Do you want me to drive you?" His voice was soft and tender, his lips inches away from her skin. What she really wanted was to stay here all day, in Max's bed, feeling him surround her, but that wasn't possible.
"You slept with him?"

"Technically, yes, but not in the way your thinking! I just spent the night in his bed, nothing happened!"

"And are we depressed about this?"

"I don't know, I guess? It just wasn't…right, you know?"

"I can say with absolute certainty that I do not! Besides, when I left you yesterday, you didn't want anything to do with him, what changed? "

"I don't know, I just really needed to see him last night!"

"Have you talked to Maria yet?"

Liz stared up at Alex, giving him an "are you serious?" look as he lent against the lockers. He was the only one she could talk to now that Maria had made her feelings quite clear towards her and Max. The bell rang, signalling their next class.

"What kind of world do we live in if my two best friends are fighting with each other? I tell you we're all going insane!"

"If you say so! I'll see you at the Crashdown after eighth period?" She started to walk backwards towards her class.

"Sure!"

"Thanks Alex!" Liz turned around in front of the doorway to biology, butterflies filled her stomach as she looked up and saw Max smiling at her behind the desk. She sat down next to him nervously, blushing from how stupid she felt.

"What?" His smile widened as she looked at him, wishing she were still wrapped in his arms beneath the covers of his bed. She felt like a kid in a candy store, full of excitement and anticipation, until your mother drags you out saying that she has no money left and it'll rot your teeth. In this case, Mr Seligman was the mother.

"Frankly, I think a kindergarten student could have done better on those assignments you handed in people! Terrible work, definitely not up to standard!" He started walking around handing out papers to their rightful owners. Liz glanced at Max, who was writing something down on a piece of paper. He folded it up and slid it across the table, trying not to look suspicious, but failing miserably.

"Fabulous work Miss Parker and Mr Evans, by far the best!" He threw the papers onto the table, a giant B standing out in red ink. Liz looked up from the booklet at Max, as he nodded towards the small piece of paper she was now holding in her hand. Slowly, she opened it up, hiding it under the table as she read it.

Sleep well?

She laughed to herself as she read the note. Max had a way of being extremely romantic and laconic at the same time.

"Something funny Miss Parker?"

Her head shot up, realising that everyone was looking at her. "Um…no, Mr Seligman!"

"That's what I thought! Now, as I was saying, when the question asks you to …" His voice faded into the background as once again she gazed over at Max. He was looking around the room, trying to avoid her gaze, but a smile was plastered on his face. She felt fingertips touch hers underneath the table. His palm was warm against hers as he held her hand, feeling her energy flow threw him at the touch of her skin.