Part 29

Maria sat down to rest her weary feet. She knew better than to wear this particular pair of shoes to work, but they were Michael's favorite and so she wore them anyway. Of course when she'd gotten to work she'd discovered that he had changed shifts again and was not working. It was all that she could do to not cry from frustration. How was she supposed to convince him that they were supposed to be together if he wasn't there for her to try?

She looked over to the counter where Max sat moping yet again. That boy seriously needs to get a grip. Maybe if he weren't so damn willing to "cool off" where Liz is concerned he might stand a chance. Unfortunately they can both be so selfless that they are going to miss each other completely if they aren't careful. She shook her head, pushed her self up and walked over to the counter.

"Ok girlfriend, I hate to do this to you but we're closing in like five minutes. I need that glass so I can finish the clean up," she told him.

"Huh?! Oh, right. OK. Here," he said handing it to her. He pulled money from his wallet and set it on the counter with a sigh.

"Look if you want to continue this mope session, then go over to the video rental and rent Steel Magnolias and Beaches. Then meet me back at my house in half an hour. You'll have to deal with sob infested chick flicks and have to help me paint my toenails. But I promise that you will feel better after watching both of those flicks," she said thinking, If for no other reason than to realize that you aren't dead yet so it isn't over.

"I don't know," Max said looking a little pained at the thought.

"Just scoot. If you're there, then fine. If you aren't, then fine. Got it? Good. Go," she said firmly steering him out the door and locking it behind him.

Jeff was at the register cashing everything out. He laughed as Maria turned the lock. "Has anyone ever told you that you will make a great bouncer when you are older?"

She tried to look stern and glare at him but the laughter was infectious.


When she got home to her surprise both her mother and Max were both there. Amy was slamming pots and pans
around the kitchen and muttering under her breath.

"Maria, Have you seen the popcorn pot? I need popcorn. NOW!" Amy said hysterically.

"Mom? What's wrong? What happened?" Maria said rushing to her mother's side.

She threw her arms around her daughter's neck and began to weep.

Maria worried that something terrible may have happened guided her mother to the living room and mouthed to Max as she passed, Make popcorn.

She heard him moving to do just that as she settled Amy on the couch. She handed her a box of tissues and said, "Ok, what happened? What did he do? He didn't hit you did he?"

Amy took a deep breath and with a shaky voice began to speak. "You know I had a date tonight?"

Maria nodded.

"Well, I got there and Jim seemed very odd. But then again a lot of things were very odd. Anyway, he acted like he'd never been so glad to see anyone in his entire life. But then when I went to kiss him I saw it. There were traces of lipstick on his face. It looked like he had already washed his face when they were put there. So of course I freaked and started shouting at him about kissing someone else right before we had a date. He kept insisting that he hadn't kissed anyone. But when I asked him to explain the lipstick, he clamed up. So I left and have been throwing things ever since. I mean, really, how can he deny kissing someone when I saw the lipstick for myself?"

Max cleared his throat from the doorway, "Um, popcorn is ready."

Amy's eyes fixed on the bowl and then gave Max a look that implied, What are you waiting for?

Max brought the bowl to the coffee table and said, "It is possible, you know."

"What is possible?" Amy questioned.

"It is possible to have not kissed anyone yet have traces of lipstick."

"How?"

"Think about it. If someone he didn't want to kiss, had kissed him wouldn't he say that he hadn't kissed anyone? Wouldn't that also explain the relief to see you?" Max stated.

"Mom, that also might explain why he wouldn't tell you who it was. Especially if he didn't want anything to do with that person, ever."

"Oh God, I've done it again haven't I? Reacted first, then thought it through. How can I face him now?" Amy wailed.

"Mom, go. Go face him now and talk about it before you have a chance to sleep on it and get even more embarrassed. I mean it. Go. Talk. To. Him."

"I thought you didn't like him?"

"I didn't. But he made you smile when you hadn't for a while and that bumped him up a couple of notches."
Maria winked at her mother then herded her out the door.

As she went back to the couch she thought of Jeff's comment from earlier and laughed again.


Kyle woke with a start. A dream. A stupid dream… thank God. He took several deep breaths trying to calm his pounding heart.

He picked up his watch. Two o'clock. Great… Like my sleep wasn't bad enough already without the dreams of my mother boiling me in a pot for native cannibals to enjoy… He sighed. Maybe some meditation will help. But where? Not the boy's lavatory again. Maybe the common room? Yeah that's it.

He climbed out of the bed and slid on his slippers before padding downstairs as quietly as possible.

He sat slowly down in a chair first, planning to move down to the floor in a couple of minutes. He noticed the fire was still going in the grate. That's odd. The fire usually doesn't keep burning after we all go to bed.

He looked around and noticed Harry huddled in a chair by the fire seeming to stare into the flames.

"Couldn't sleep?" Kyle questioned softly.

Harry jumped at the sound. As soon as he could speak without a shaky voice he answered, "Yeah, something like that."

"Me too. Actually I was sleeping but I was having nightmares. My mother had me in one of those large kettle cauldrons, cooking me for the local cannibals. And I was screaming, 'Mom, Don't do this. I promise I'll clean my room…' I guess it kind of sounds silly now," Kyle said with a small chuckle.

"It does, just a bit," Harry said with a slight smile. "I don't think you've ever mentioned your mom before. Is she really strict with you?"

"No. Well, actually I hardly remember since I don't live with her anymore. She left us a few years ago. Strangely enough I've only seen her once since then. Anyway the dream had me kind of worked up so I thought I'd come down here away from Fred's snoring to meditate and try to relax. Did you want to try?"

"Um, sure. If you don't mind?"

"I don't mind. Just remember I'm not a professional at this, so no guarantees, but we'll try it anyway."

They sat on the floor near the fire and slowly Kyle talked Harry through the steps. Then he allowed himself to meditate. Half an hour later Kyle brought himself out of the trance-like state and guided Harry back out as well. Soon both boys were back upstairs sleeping peacefully in their beds.

It was 7:30 before Kyle stirred the next morning. He stretched and groaned. As he looked around to get his bearings he saw the bag from Honeydukes and wondered if his father had received his letter yet.

He let the thought drop as he realized the time and jumped out of bed to face the day.