Chapter Five

Disclaimer: i do not own any of the character although the plot is mine.

Summary: Future Max turned to himself to help instead of Liz to tell the future. Max had broken up with Liz and spending more time with Tess so Liz would hate him. Max had told Tess that he couldn't be with Liz because if he did it'll be the end of the world but that's all. Tess is trying to work out how he knows this and why it'll be the end of the world. Michael lives by himself in an apartment since Hank is dead. Alex is also still alive.

"Lord, help us," Alex muttered as he saw his two best friends.

Maria's eyes were puffy and red and her clothes were wrinkled. Alex squinted. They weren't her clothes. They were Michael's. What on the planet was going on?

Liz, on the other hand, was pale and seemed very fragile. She was dressed in black as if she wanted to melt away in the background. She had bags under her eyes.

Something was very wrong.

"Maria, Liz!" he called out.

They both turned and frowned. Then they made their way over.

"What's wrong, poppets?" he asked placing an arm around each of the girl's shoulders.

Maria said 'Michael' while Liz said 'Max'. Typical. Girls these days. Alex tried not to roll his eyes.

"Okay, take a chill and then explain. Liz, you first," Alex said. Liz was more calm and Maria looked like she was going to blow a fuse.

"Max told me he didn't love me," she said thinly. Was that why she was looking like an alien herself?

"He's probably telling you that because he reckons he's protecting you," Alex said as calmly as he could. "Maria?"

"Michael was sucking on Isabel's face."

Alex's arm dropped and he felt like he had been kicked in his stomach. No way. No freakin' way. Isabel didn't care about him.

Maria had paled and was reaching for him.

"Alex, I'm sorry, I…" Maria trailed off blinking away tears.

"It's not your fault," Alex said in a voice that sounded strangled. "I…I have to do something."

Unable to look at both of them, he walked away.

………………Isabel at her locker…………………

"Ignore Michael. Ignore Maria. Ignore Max. Ignore the world," Isabel muttered. "Ignore Michael. Ignore Maria. Ignore Max. Ignore—."

"Isabel!"

Isabel froze. Oh God. She had forgotten about Alex.

Breath girl, it's okay. Act like everything's normal. He doesn't know. He CAN'T know. Michael is too much of a sulk to tell.

"Alex," Isabel said forcing a smile. He gave one back but it looked strained.

"So…anything different since the last time we chatted?" he asked casually. His voice was gentle but his eyes were dark and savage.

"Not on my side, you?" Isabel asked trying to be her normal, flirty self. She was not doing a good job. She sounded phony.

"Yeah," Alex said with a laugh. It was more like a bark. "I was told that Michael was sucking on your face."

"What!"

Isabel sank down against her locker unable to control her trembling. Michael didn't care. He had just easily laughed it off and told everyone.

"Good call," Alex sneered. "You'll make millions with how many hearts you're playing."

"God, no…Alex…" Isabel whispered her eyes blurred through the tears.

"Save it, Isabel. I thought that the things between us were real. I lov—," his voice broke off and he shook his head.

Isabel had a horrible feeling that his eyes were wet. Her heart twisted with pain.

"Alex, I—," Isabel started weakly but Alex silenced her with a long, cold look.

"I don't talk to hookers like you. They disgust me," he said in an icy tone.

Isabel shook her head and started to cry. Her shoulders shook with every sob.

"Hang on…"

She realised it was his voice. She looked up a little hope fluttering in her chest. Maybe he would forgive her…

"Keep Michael away from Maria. She's half-dead because of you. Michael can't be any lower if he tried," Alex added.

Isabel's heart sank lower. Maria knew. How many people knew? How could Michael so easily tell everyone?

"Isabel."

Isabel forced her head up and saw it was a petite blonde. Isabel recognised her on the debating team.

"Yes?" Isabel whispered wiping at her wet cheeks.

"What you did was…wrong," the girl said.

Around her, people murmured their agreement.

Isabel choked back another sob. Everyone hated her.

…………………Tess walking towards Max…………………

Tess didn't know how to act. She now knew why Max was so forlorn. It hurt but can't Max see reality? If 'the future version of himself' said he couldn't be with Liz why can't he accept it and be with her?

"Max," Tess said forcing a cheerful smile on her face. She remembered being held by Max's strong arms. Her skin erupted with goose bumps.

"Tess," he greeted unenthusiastically. She sat on the stool opposite him.

Tess chewed on her bottom lip. Will Max ever feel the same feelings towards her as he did to Liz?

"You don't need me anymore, do you?" she asked casually.

"Huh?" he asked sounding slightly confused.

"I mean it's obvious you were using me to back Liz off," Tess said nonchalantly. The words stung her.

"I wasn't," Max said but she had already heard the sharp intake. "I need a friend."

He looked up and gave her a strained smile. One point for Harding. Max had smiled at her.

"What about Michael?" she asked.

"He has his own problems," Max answered flatly.

Tess nodded. She had heard this morning that Michael had kissed Isabel whilst still together with Maria.

"Liz looks happy," Tess said thoughtfully looking at the dark brunette.

"Huh?"

Max's head immediately raised. Tess forced down her jealousy.

"She's with Kyle," Tess said.

Tess loved Max, she really did but sometimes she liked watching him suffer. He deserves to feel the pain that Tess feels every day she looked at him.

"Why don't you make her jealous?" Tess whispered huskily.

"Because I don't want to hurt her," he growled through clenched teeth.

"But she's making you jealous, isn't she?" Tess murmured sliding closer and slipping an arm around his waist. He stiffened but didn't pull away. "All is fair in love and war."

"She's…" Max protested.

"She's doing it deliberately. Look, she's keeps glancing our way," Tess whispered into his ear. She couldn't help herself. She flicked her tongue around his earlobe.

Tess resisted the urge to brainwarp him into kissing her. It had been so long, too long since she felt his lips on hers. But fate would take them there…

……………………Liz and Kyle watching Tess……………………

Liz felt sick. She felt like she was going to puke. Tess was darting her tongue in and out of his ear.

"Liz…" Kyle said as if trying to calm her down.

"I hate her, I can't stand her. I used to think she was okay but as soon as Max dumps me, she goes and…and gropes him," Liz hissed angrily.

"Hey, hey…" Kyle said tenderly. He placed an uncomfortable arm around her shoulder. "I have to live with her."

Maybe it was suppose to make her laugh but Liz somehow forgot how to do that. And how to smile.

"I'm glad you're here, Kyle. You're so understanding," Liz sighed placing her head on his shoulder.

Kyle gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"That's what friends are for."

……………………Maria talking with Alex…………………

"You're not mad at me are you?" Maria asked glancing at Alex from under her lashes.

"Why would I be mad at you?" he asked. He gave a laugh but it sounded more like a choke.

"About Isabel," Maria said.

"I would've found out somehow. Hey, don't cry again…" Alex said helplessly. He folded her into his arms.

"I hate Michael so much," Maria said her voice muffled by his shirt.

"I hate Isabel so much," Alex murmured into her hair.

"Do…you…" Maria cleared her throat and pulled back. She wiped away the tears under her eyelids.

"I what?" Alex questioned with a frown.

"Do you love Isabel?" Maria asked.

A pause.

"Yes. Do you love Michael?" Alex asked.

Maria nodded.

"And you just said you hated him," Alex said with a smirk.

"I know," Maria said with a little smile of her own. "I just…do you think you can live without Isabel?"

"No but I'm trying to," Alex said with a deflated sigh.

"The thing on Michael is…I love him. I h ad never loved any guy so much. Anyway, I can't live without him and I want to forgive him but then he'll keep cheating on me, wouldn't he?" Maria asked weakly.

"I don't know," Alex said.

"But you're a guy!" Maria said exasperated.

"And I don't have a twisted mind like Michael's. You don't see me shoving my tongue down my friend's girlfriends, do you?" Alex demanded.

"Knowing Isabel, she probably led him on," Maria said her own anger flaring.

"Oh yeah, totally. She would've been begging him to snog her, wouldn't she?" Alex leered.

"Stop it!" Maria shouted feeling like she was going to explode. "We're turning on each other too."

She took a hesitant step towards him and forced herself to look into his eyes.

"I'm sorry about what I said, of course it was all Michael's fault. Just don't leave me too, Alex. I have no one left. Everyone's leaving me one by one," Maria said with a sniff.

"Oh, Maria," Alex sighed pulling her into his arms. "I'm so sorry. Promise we won't let those two big-headed creeps ruin our friendship?"

"Promise."

……………………Max going into his room……………………

Max closed the door and frowned. Was it him or was it very cold in here?

He looked around to see any signs of difference. His frown deepened when he noticed his window open. Why was it opened?

Then he remembered he was trying to heal a bird. D'oh. Shaking his head, he made his way over to close it.

Then his breath caught in his lungs. There was something caught on the branch. Denim. The same fabric Tess was wearing yesterday.

Leaning over, Max plucked it off the branch. It even had Tess's smell. That over-powering perfume.

Since when was Tess here? She never visited him at his house.

"Oh God," Max said when he remembered something.

That dream. Maybe it wasn't a dream. Maybe it was real. Maybe she had mindwarp him.

Max clutched the rip fabric in his hand till it hurt. She must've mindwarped him. How else did the denim appeared there? And today, she hadn't even asked him why he couldn't be with Liz.

Max fell onto the floor letting out a depressed moan. He had failed the world. He had promised the future version himself that no one would know. Especially Tess.