Thank you soooo much for the great reviews! Many thanks to dreamers oasis, IloveRoswellandCharmed and kt. Please keep r&r ing:)

Well here is the next chapter! Hope it lives up to expectations :)

CHAPTER 3

Max, Michael, Alex and Jesse walked into the University bar. Michael and Jesse immediately went to buy a round of drinks, whilst Max and Alex looked for a table to sit at. Ever since Michael had discovered that Jesse liked sports the two had been chatting like they'd known each other for years. They had discovered they had the same warped sense of humour. Alex had tried to get a look in…but for some reason he found it difficult to relate to them. They were all about many women and Alex was looking for only one. And he had decided he had found that one. He had spent most of his afternoon pummelling Max to find out things about Isabel that he could use in conversation.

Max found a table with two chairs to each side. Max was about to sit down when he heard the screeching.

"Max!"

Max looked up to see the blond girl with the too revealing top rush towards him.

"Oh Max there you are! I'm so happy to see you!" Tess exclaimed as she pulled Max into an involuntary hug. Tess used this moment to thrust her bosoms at the unfortunate boy.

Max quickly pulled away from Tess and sat down. Immediately the blond sat in the seat next to him. Max looked to see Isabel. He rolled his eyes at Isabel and she had to try not to laugh. He didn't spot the two girls following her.

As Isabel approached Alex's world slowed. She saw the way her blue dress floated around her knees; the way her hair glistened under the bright lights; the way her smile brightened the room.

Isabel looked at Alex to see him staring at her. She smiled at him.

Isabel reached the table. "Hey Max! Hi Alex!" She said still smiling. She took the seat opposite Max and on the corner with Alex. "Max, this is Maria…." She said pointing at the blond standing directly behind her. "And this is Liz" she said.

Max took a second to see Liz, but when he did he practically gasped out loud. God she was beautiful.

"Hi" Liz said as she wheeled herself into the seat next to Alex, which happened to be at the corner where Max was sitting.

"Hey" Max replied still staring at her.

Maria and Isabel had seen that look and smiled at each other. Tess meanwhile looked as though she was about to kill her for disobeying the order to stay away from Max.

Maria took the seat opposite Liz. She wanted to sit next to Isabel…but figured shed be looking at an angry Tess all evening and decided at least sitting opposite Liz she wouldn't have to actually look at her.

Jesse and Michael returned from buying the four beers for the lads and four alchopops for the ladies. They weren't really sure what to get so they just guessed that alchopops would do.

"Hey guys and gals!" Jesse said cheerily as he reached the table. He set down an alchopop in front of Liz, Maria and Tess when he saw Isabel. "Wow" he thought. He set it down in front of her. "Hey girls I'm Jesse" he said, even though his eyes were only on Isabel. He quickly sat down in the spare seat next to her. Alex felt his heart sinking.

"Man that bartender takes forever!" Michael exclaimed as he set down the beers and sat down in the spare seat next to Maria and on the corner with Jesse. He immediately turned to Jesse and said "So Jesse don't you agree the girl bartender had a great rack!"

"Erm hi!" Maria said disgruntlelly. "You know you could always introduce yourself to us rather than blanking us completely!"

Michael slowly turned to face her.

"Do I look like I want to talk to you blondey?" Michael said pointedly. He then turned back saying

"So as I was saying…"only to find Jesse engaged in a conversation with Isabel. Maria laughed at him.

"What is your problem?" Michael asked her.

"Well I just like it when people get there comeuppance." Maria said sweetly.

"You know what chick…" Michael said leaning towards her. "I DON'T LIKE YOU!"

"Ditto!" Maria replied with disdain. They then proceed to glare at each other but refused to speak.

Meanwhile Alex had watched as Jesse and Isabel had been discussing everything he was going to say. "Jesse must have been listening when he was watching sport with Michael" Alex thought. Alex was utterly miserable. He watched as he sat next to the girl who he was so close to….yet was so far away.

Isabel and Jesse where having a whale of a time. Jesse had decided he had never met anyone as great as Isabel before! And she was a lawyer! Isabel was his dream-come-true. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Alex more than once try to add himself to the conversation, but Jesse had cut him off. He had seen the way they had looked at each other, and he wanted Isabel all to himself.

Isabel was smiling happily at Jesse. To the world she looked as though she was a happy-go-lucky in love teenager. On the inside Isabel was an alien princess. And right now she was thinking about how she would like to talk to Alex. Jesse was great….and in fact she was really enjoying his company. But she was all kinds of confused. Both of them were amazing. She just wished she could say two words to Alex without being rude to Jesse.

Max had spent a while listening to Tess prattling on about something or other, before he couldn't stand it any longer. He turned around abruptly and said

"So Liz what are you studying?"

Liz was astonished by this…but had to admit, she was glad. She hadn't really said much so far and Max looked like an interesting guy to talk to. And he was a very good looking guy. She could see the glares from Tess, but she figured they were only talking, and Tess hated her already, it's not as if she could do anything about them talking.

"Chemistry." Liz replied.

"Wow! So am I!" Max said shocked that the goddess in front of him was taking the same subject.

Max wasn't the kind of guy who had prejudices. Yes Liz was in a wheelchair…but so what! She was beautiful.

"Really?" Liz said enthused. "Who's teaching you?"

"Professor Collonway."

"Me too!" Liz said amazed.

"Well Liz, it looks as those we'll be seeing a lot more of each other then." Max said smiling.

"Yeah, I guess we will" Liz replied smiling.

Tess had had enough.

"Max." She said grabbing Max's hand off his beer "We're dancing!" she said trying to pull him up.

"What?" Max asked, anger in his voice.

"Please! I love this song! Come on Maax! You know you want to dance with me!" Tess said trying to pout seductively.

To Max however she looked like she was pretending to be a wet fish.

"Actually Tess…I don't. You see that's the thing. I broke up with you. I moved away and you followed us. I didn't ask you to come. Tess I don't like you! I never have! Stop acting like I'm your property. I don't give a shit what you do. Don't command me. Get off me." Max said jerking away his hand.

"Maaaaaaaax!" Tess said anger creeping into her voice. "But you are mine! And one day you're going to see that. She's doing this to you." Tess said pointing at Liz. "She's making you say things you don't mean. You know you love me Max, so get away from the idiot-probably-diseased-invalid."

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Max slapped her hard around the face.

"Get out of my life Tess" Max said slowly and coldly.

Tess clutched her red face. "This is not over." Tess stated before flouncing out the door.

"Whoa Max! You have some arm! Hey Max fancy slapping this one here too?" Michael asked jerking his thumb at Maria.

"Excuse me!" Maria shrilled at him.

"Well you've had something against me all evening. What is your problem chick!" Michael said raising his voice.

"My problem is Micky that you're so self centred! You're rude and abrupt and couldn't give a damn about anyone else and…."

"Wanna dance?" Michael interrupted.

"Yes" Maria said getting up.

"Whoa." Max muttered to Liz. "Talk about going 180 degrees."

"Oh come on Max, they've been eying each other all night. It was only a matter of time before…"

Max looked at Michael and Maria who were now dancing away.

"Yeah I guess so. So Liz" he said turning back towards her "Do you have a boyfriend?"

Liz laughed.

"No, most guys see the wheelchair as a turn off. In fact I'm surprised you're even talking to me." Liz said honestly.

"I'm not like that Liz" Max replied just as honestly.

"I know you don't Max. I can see it in the way you talk…in your eyes…."

Liz trailed off. The two locked eyes again and smiled. Max was telling himself "Don't get too attached Evans. You know why you're here. You have to find her. Don't be distracted from the mission". But gazing into her eyes…all thoughts of someone else went from his mind.

"Hey Isabel…you want to dance?" Jesse asked.

"Yeah ok" Isabel replied smiling.

She took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. A slow song had just come on, so Jesse put his hands around her waist and Isabel but her arms round his neck. Isabel smiled at Jesse. Isabel was having a great time. She felt bad about Alex….but at the same time….Jesse was great too. Jesse was just as happy, if not more. He wanted Isabel all to himself.

"Isabel? Would you….want to go on a date with me?" Jesse asked.

Isabel smiled. "Sure."

"Tomorrow night? Seven?" Jesse asked smiling.

"Sounds great." Isabel replied.

Alex had been staring at them. He had lip-read everything they'd said. And now, he was determined to fight for her. Alex got up swiftly and walked over to them.

"May I cut in?" Alex asked with an enforced smile to Jesse.

Jesse was about to say "No I don't think so" when he heard someone else speak.

"Of course" Isabel said smiling.

Jesse gave Isabel a small smile as he headed back to the table. Jesse felt like a right plank. He was also hopping mad at Alex. He was not going to let this drop. He was determined to win Isabel's heart.

"I've been trying to talk to you all evening" Alex said to Isabel as they danced.

"I know. I have too…but I didn't want to be mean to Jesse. He's a sweet guy." Isabel said.

"Uh huh. Well….would you want to go on a date….tomorrow night?" Alex asked knowing perfectly well she couldn't.

"Oh. I can't…what about the night after?" Isabel asked.

Alex smiled inside of himself. She was chasing him.

"I don't know…I'll have to check with the girls….I think they wanted to do something. How about I call you tomorrow to confirm?" Alex asked.

"Yeah great" Isabel said.

She pulled out a pen from her handbag and wrote her mobile number on the back of his hand. Alex was beaming. Jesse was scowling. Even he had not got that far….and he'd managed it in only few minutes. Jesse growled before heading back to the apartment.

Liz yawned. Max thought it was so sweet. She was so perfect.

"You tired? Want me to walk you back?" Max asked.

Liz smiled. "Yeah ok. Thanks" Liz said. She waved over to Michael and Maria who waved back. Alex and Isabel were too busy talking and dancing to notice Max and Liz leave.

Max offered to push Liz, but she would have none of it. Liz was very independent, and she wanted to stay that way. Max walked Liz back to the main door of the girls' complex.

"Well, Liz. I guess I'll see you around?" Max asked.

"Well…tomorrows the society fair…are you going?" Liz asked. "Perhaps I might see you there?" Liz asked.

"Yeah I am. Yeah Ill keep a lookout for you. Well…good night Liz" Max said.

"Goodnight Max" Liz replied.

They smiled at each other before walking off to there separate destinations.

They didn't spot the blond looking out of the window above, plotting her next move.

Liz wheeled herself to her room. She was exhausted. What a day she'd had. She got herself on to the bed….but couldn't seem to fall asleep. She kept thinking about Max, about this connection she felt with him. She knew that Tess wanted her to stay away from him…but Max had made his feelings pretty clear tonight. Maybe that would give her the hint. But in the back of her mind….Liz doubted it.

She stayed awake staring at the ceiling for nearly an hour before she heard someone open the apartment door and go into a bedroom. Since Maria's bedroom was next door to hers she guessed it wasn't her. "Must be Isabel" Liz thought to herself. Liz wondered what Isabel was going to do with both Jesse and Alex after her.

Eventually exhaustion over took her.

"I hate braces!" Maria complained.

"Don't sweat Maria, it makes you look cute!" Alex told her calmly.

BRIGHT LIGHTS

"MOVE!" Liz screamed.

"LIZZZZZZ! NOOOOOO!"

Liz woke up with a start, with Alex and Maria's screams in her head. She heard a kafuffle in the next room. Maria was back….and by the sounds of it…she wasn't alone. There was a sudden loud noise from next door followed by a

"Shit!"

From the sound of the noise, Liz guessed that Michael had just fallen off the bed Liz stifled a giggle.

Maria had made it quite clear to Liz that she was intending on "getting some" whilst she was here. But she doubted that Maria meant tonight. By the sounds of the giggles in the next room….they were both drunk.

Liz was tempted to go in there and interrupt…..but she didn't dare to. She knew she couldn't handle a drunken Maria let alone a drunken Michael as well.

Liz tried to block out the noises from the next room. Eventually Liz put a pillow over her head, and fell asleep.