Part Seven
A month passed and life went on as normal. Max became much closer with Tess, only as a friend. They were often found at the Crashdown having supper together or just munching on some fries, discussing the daily aspects of their lives. Max told Tess how he felt about Liz and how badly he wanted to get Liz back. Although she hated every moment of it, Tess helped Max on his quest to get back Liz. She went to the florist to arrange bouquets that Max would give Liz each week. For a whole week, she sat down with Max each day after school and helped him memorize a long Ballad that he performed for Liz at the end of the week. When that didn't work, when Liz just turned her back away, Tess was there behind the corner to comfort him. Often in the evenings, she would write romantic love letters and would bring them over to Max. When he saw them, he thanked her heartily and then would bring them over to Liz's house. Near the end of the month, Max was getting more desperate.
"This Wednesday is our one year anniversary of when we kissed. I've got to get her back on Wednesday. Can you help me find something to give her? Like a necklace or something? I know you're good at that sort of thing." Max asked Tess on that Monday evening over the phone.
"Well…I don't know." Tess was hesitant to help again.
"What do you mean you don't know. Please Tess, you've got to help me. I suck at shopping for jewelry." Max pleaded.
"I think that if you're going to get her something for an anniversary, it should come from YOU. From your heart. Not mine." Tess told him.
"Tell you what, I'll pick out a few different necklaces, then you can help me pick from them. Okay? Please Tess. Please say yes." Max sounded desperate.
"Alright. I'll meet you tomorrow at 6 in the evening. Okay? Good. See you tomorrow at school." Tess said by and then hung up. Max put down the phone satisfied. As long as Tess was there to pick out the perfect gift, everything would be perfect. She had excellent taste in everything and was always successful in making Liz smile, even if it WAS short lived. Tess lay down on her bed and closed her eyes letting a single tear slip out from under the crack.
At the Evans' house, Isabel was standing in the hall when she heard Max pleading to Tess. When he hung up, she stomped into his room and slammed the door behind her.
"Hey! What was that all about?" Max jumped at the sound of the door banging.
"You tell me! Look, you can't just go around breaking Tess' heart over and over by making her work with you to get Liz back. She's a person too Max! She's not just some robot where you can tell her to go do errands and do all your love work." Isabel yelled at Max. She was so sick of seeing Max use Tess.
"What are you talking about? Tess volunteers to do these things for me. I don't beg her to do anything. Okay, so I may have asked excessively this time, but that's it. I'm not breaking her heart. If I was, she would've told me." Max tried to defend himself, but knew that all he said just sounded stupid.
"What is wrong with you Max! Can't you see the girl is madly in love with you? That's why she's helping you. Because that's the only way that be with you. But in the end, she's only betraying herself. I can't believe how naïve you are! You are so stupid Max. Just think about it. Think of all the pain she's gone through this passed month. Man! You don't deserve her friendship. I'm sorry, but that's the truth." Isabel turned around after her explosion and walked out the room without a word from Max. He was too speechless to say anything.