Hey Guys! How is it going? I have returned with a new part! So here you guys go. I hope you like it. ; ) I'd just once again like to thank the feedbackers. You ROCK!

cesca: Yeah, Max was a jerk, but don't worry Liz will get her revenge...(Maniacal laughter) Sorry, that just came out.

kt: Yeah, I already have it planned for Liz to start getting Kyle and Serena...and soon. Serena too will have her embarrassing moments. :)

BTW: If you have not seen RENT...What are you doing! Get out there and see it! It's really really good! Now on to the next chapter...

Chapter 7: Crazy, I Was Crazy Once…

Liz POV

The bell rings signaling the end of AP Biology and I am just glad to get out from under Serena's piercing gaze. All period she gave me questioning and sometimes calculating looks trying to figure out in her mind all the possible situations that could've happened between Max and me. Grabbing my backpack I head to the door attempting to make a quick exit.

"Liz!" Oh, I was so close! "Liz, wait for me." Serena calls out picking up her bag and running to catch up. We walk in silence for a few moments and I wait for her to ask the question I know she wants to ask. I don't have to wait long though because a minute later… "So…Liz, you ready to tell me what really happened between you and Maxie boy that has your panties in such a twist?"

"Serena, I already told you there's nothing to tell; will you just quit it?"

"Okay, okay. I'll stop. If you say nothing else happened then…I believe you." Finally. "Only if you answer one more question…" Oh great what now? "Was he cute? And is he single?" She asks waggling her eyebrows up and down.

"Serena, that's two questions…" I tell her hoping to avoid answering the question. No such luck though.

"Okay, if you answer two more questions." She corrects rolling her eyes. She asks those questions as if they're the easiest to answer in the world but knowing my cousin, I know any answers I give her she'll add to her earlier ideas of what happened. I feel relief wash over me though when I hear the bell ring again. Saved by the bell…literally.

"Sorry Serena, I gotta go or I'm gonna be late." I shout over my shoulder as I run to my Pre-calculus class. Never have I been so excited to go to my Pre-cal class; and it's not just because Jay's in that class too. What! It's not!

Isabel POV

I can't stand it! Ever since Max told me and Alex that he kissed Liz, an extremely awkward silence has fallen over us. I mean it doesn't exactly help that Alex is one of Liz's best friends; and it's not like your normal awkward silence either. It's like 'when our mom finds a new recipe in Martha Stewart Living and we know it's going to taste horrible but we don't say anything because we don't want to hurt her feelings' kind of awkward. What was he thinking! Ugghhhh! If someone doesn't say something soon I'm going to go crazy!

"So…Max…um, what classes do you have?" Thank goodness for Alex. I give his arm a quick squeeze silently thanking him for trying to break the silence. He responds by covering my hand with his never taking his eyes off of Max who is checking his pockets for his schedule. It's so weird, Alex and I just met last night and already I feel so comfortable with him. And he's not even-.

"Here it is." Max says unfolding a piece of paper and successfully pulling me from my thoughts. "It says I have first period woodshop with Mr. Martinez…"

"Oh you're in the same class as Michael and Maria." This catches my attention.

"Maria takes woodshop?" I ask making sure I heard right. From what little I know of Maria from meeting her last night I wouldn't have guessed that she took woodshop.

"Yeah." Alex answers; a broad smile covering his face. "Michael and Kyle made the mistake of telling her there was no way she could pass that class. Needless to say she joined just to prove them wrong."

"And how did that turn out?"

"Not well, really. Her napkin holder looked more like a shoe tree." He tells us laughing. "Serena and I have suspicions though that she really joined the class to meet guys. Over half the football team is in that class." If only they knew that Michael and Maria are dating…Wait.

"Serena? Is she your girlfriend?" I inquire trying to keep the jealousy out of voice while at the same time trying to remove my hand out from under his. Why am I jealous? Of course he has a girlfriend. He bell rings and hundreds of students file out of doors around us. I try once again to get my hand away from his. What if someone sees us like this and tells his girlfriend? That'd be a really good way to start school here wouldn't it? I feel Alex's hand tighten on my own but with a final yank I feel my hand slip out of is grasp. He turns to look at me in confusion; his confusion quickly turns to understanding and suddenly the sound of laughter rings through the hall. Several students turn to llok at us, but soon lose interest and head to their next classes.

"SERENA, MY GIRLFRIEND?" And suddenly I feel like such a fool, the way he says it speaking of how incredulous the idea of it really is. "No, Serena is one of my best friends. I've known her since we were in elementary school. She's more like a sister actually than anything. I think you guys will really hit it off." Smiling at me he makes a grab for my hand and I allow him to take hold of it again placing it once more around his arm. "Shall we continue the tour milady?" Blushing shyly I look up into his clear blue eyes and nod.

"We shall." But the sound of someone clearing their throat quickly distracts us from our comfortable silence and I remember that we're not alone. Alex doesn't miss a beat though and I envy him for recovering so quickly.

"Anyways, I think you'll really like that class though Max; Mr. Martinez is really cool. Who else do you have?"

"I have Carter for English, Thompson for psychology-."

"Hey! You have psychology with me, Serena, Maria, and…and Liz." Hello awkward silence. Welcome back.

Liz POV

Walking into the classroom I look around anxiously for Jay and soon find him…sitting next to a girl, talking and laughing. Come on Liz, it's probably not what you think. He told you last night that he wanted to go out with you again. Or at least that's what I was telling myself before I see said girl break out into laughter and playfully hit him on the shoulder. Before I can stop myself I walk stiffly over to where their sitting.

"Hey Jay."

Hey Jay? Is that the best you can do?

You again? Leave me alone, I'm busy.

Busy what? Embarrassing yourself? It's obvious he's busy too. You know, talking to another girl?

Shut up.

Okay, but just remember, I told you.

"Oh…hey, Liz." Jay says not even turning around to look at me. What? Did he just totally ignore me? "So, Christina-"

"Jay, can I talk to you for a minute?" I interrupt quickly as I notice him moving to touch 'Christina's' hand. What's going on?

"Sure." His hand stops it's progression but he makes no move and still won't look at me when he answers.

"Alone." I choke out the word and bite back the tears I feel stinging the back of my eyes. Finally glancing in my direction he stands up and moves to follow me, but not before turning to tell Christina he'd be back. Already our little scene has gotten the full attention of the class and so hoping for a little semblance of privacy I lead him to a deserted corner of the classroom.

"What's going on Jay? Last night you said that you-I mean…I…I…I thought you liked me." I finally stutter out. Jeez, he must think I'm such a moron.

"Yeah, I did. I guess I made the mistake of thinking you liked me back when obviously that wasn't true." He turns to leave and I reach out and grab his arm to stop him from leaving.

"Wait, what are you talking about? I've wanted last night to happen for as long as I can remember." I bite out angrily. Realizing what I've just admitted I feel my cheeks redden. Recovering, I continue. "Besides, you're the one getting all friendly with Christina over there." I gesture in her direction. At least the girl has the decency to look embarrassed and a little guilty.

"Well, isn't this interesting?" He continues. "You know, I don't see why you're so angry Liz. You know I thought I knew you. I never took you for a liar or a hypocrite, but I was wrong. I guess I never really knew you."

"What are you talking about!" I whisper hurt. Then an idea comes to my mind. Tess. "Did your sister tell you something about me? Because whatever it was it wasn't true! Your sister hates me-" He interrupts me with bitter laughter.

"Liz, Tess tells me a lot of things about you. A lot of them bad, but I never believed her. I believed in you and what I thought I knew about you, but maybe I should've listened to her." I move my mouth to say something, but he continues. "It wasn't something Tess said, Liz."

"Then what happened? Why are you acting like this? I do care about you!"

"Well maybe I'd be more inclined to believe you if I hadn't of seen you kissing that guy out in the hallway. Were you thinking about how much you cared about me when you were kissing him?"

I'm so taken off guard by his statement that all I can stutter out is, "Y-you saw that?" Too late I realize how guilty that makes me sound, but before I can defend myself he answers my question.

"Yes I saw it." He stiffly replies. Then for the first time during our conversation I see his face soften into a sad smile. "I guess you're not who I thought you were." Ms. Hardy conveniently picks this time to storm through the door making excuses about being a few minutes late. Jay turns around and heads to a desk on the other side of the classroom. In some sickeningly pathetic way I'm just glad he can't continue 'talking' to Christina; and with that little consolation I head for a seat near the back. He doesn't look at me for the entire period and as soon as the bell rings for lunch he's out the door.

Lunch Liz's POV

"Liz? Liz, what are you doing hiding in the bushes?" Kyle asks taking a bite out of his sandwich and staring at me where I sit perched behind the shrubs in the quad.

"I uh…. I dropped my uh…ring." I whisper lamely fumbling around in the dirt for a ring that isn't there.

"Liz, why are you whispering?"

"Shhhhhh!" I whisper harshly yanking him down by his shirt into the bushes next to me. "Fine! Fine. I'm spying on Max." I admit immediately looking back to where Max is seated with Alex, Isabel, Michael, and Maria.

"What! Why are you spying on Max?"

"That's not important. Do you have any binoculars on you?" I question grabbing his backpack and rifling through it.

"Do I have any…Liz you're crazy!" He shouts yanking his backpack from my grasp. "Besides they're like thirty feet away!"

"Shhhhh! Do you want to get us caught!"

"Get us caught! You're the one spying on Max…which why are you doing this again?"

"I'm plotting his downfall." I say letting the evil grin slip onto my face. He's going to pay for what he did. Okay I know this is totally irrational, but it's his fault that Jay won't talk to me, let alone look at me. I think I've earned the right to be a little irrational. Either way, Max is going down. Mwa ha ha ha ha.

"Uh Liz? Are you okay? You're kind of starting to scare me." Kyle says scooting away from me.

"You're going down Max." I continue, ignoring Kyle's remark, and turn once more to look at my prey; though I don't get the chance because my vision is blocked by a mass of sickeningly blonde curls.

"Well, well, well; what have we here?"

"Go away Tess." I grind out angrily glaring at her. If anything her smile only gets wider as her lackeys snicker from their place behind her.

"My, my; so touchy Liz. You know, I always knew you weren't good enough for my brother, but he wouldn't listen to me. Thank goodness he finally sees you for the skank you really are." She sneers. Man I want to claw her face off right now. She has no idea what she's talking about.

"Hmmm…Tess, that's so weird!" Kyle exclaims looking totally confused.

"What is?"

"Well, you're calling Liz a skank, but she's nothing like you!" Kyle continues still pretending to be genuinely confused. Tess glares at him and then continues her little 'I hate Liz' tirade.

"No wonder my brother dumped you Liz, here you are the day after your first date and already you have your tongue down some other guy's throat and now here you are hiding in the bushes with another guy…" She trails off looking like a cat that just caught a mouse. Turning her attention to Kyle she continues, "You know Kyle, if I were you I'd stay away from her. She might try and jump you too."

"Hmmm…" Kyle says pretending to think something over. "Yeah, still a lot better than being jumped by an evil, blonde, conniving, skank. Uh and in case you didn't know…that's you." He says smiling, proud of his insult.

"Whatever." She grates out angrily in her annoying voice. Then she turns her attention back to me. "Look, just stay away from my brother." She says in what she thinks, I guess, is supposed to a serious voice, but just as she says this one of her lackeys bumps into her from behind spilling diet coke all over her. She runs off screaming and I don't think Kyle and I have laughed so hard in our lives and for the first time this morning I start to feel better.

5 Minutes Later

"Liz? Kyle? What the heck are you two doing laughing in the bushes?" When neither of us can stop laughing long enough to answer her she continues. "Oh my gosh. Are you guys getting high?" This only causes Kyle and me to laugh harder. "Seriously are you?"

"No Serena, we're not getting high." I answer through giggles.

"Then what are you two doing in the bushes?" She asks confused. "You guys aren't back together are you!" She asks, a gasp ripping from her throat. Kyle immediately sobers at her comment.

"No! I mean uh…no, Liz and I are not getting back together." He assures her scooting a little further away from me to emphasize his point.

"Oh. Well, then what are you two doing?"

"Uh, spying on Max-." "Looking for my ring!" Kyle and I answer at the same time. Serena raises an eyebrow and stares at us expectantly.

"I mean, spying on Max!" "Looking for Liz's ring!"

"So which is it? Are you spying on Max or are you looking for Liz's ring?" Once again, when neither of us answers her question she continues. "So, why are you guys spying on Max?" She asks interested crouching down next to us in the bushes.

"Liz is plotting his downfall." Kyle answers automatically.

"Kyle!" I yelp out smacking him on the arm. I can't believe he told her!

"That seems kind of drastic to me considering you only told me he was rude and full of himself Liz. Why would you be plotting his downfall? Did something else happen?" Serena questions me turning her head to look at me. I quickly try to avoid her gaze and turn to look at Kyle. Suddenly a look of realization comes over Kyle's face and he turns to me in shock. I don't like where this is going…

"HOLY CRAP! That guy! That guy that Tess said you kissed this morning! That was Max wasn't it! You kissed Max and Jay broke up with you because he found out!" He shouts out in disbelief.

"YOU KISSED MAX!" Serena shouts incredulously looking back and forth between me and the table we'd been staring at.

"What's this world coming to? First Barbie and Ken and now you and Jay! It's just not fair!" Although Serena ignores Kyle's words as she continues to stare at me.

"You kissed Max!"

"Why God? Why?" Kyle yells out dramatically sobbing into his hands.

"You KISSED Max!

"Jeez Serena, calm down. Besides I didn't kiss Max."

"But then who-"

"He kissed me."