Part 2

"Uh hey Max…" I said wondering how I was going to get myself out of this, "what are you doing here?"

If anything, I could swear that his smile grew as he watched me through deep brown eyes that sucked you in and entrapped you with Max-like thoughts all day…I shook my head to clear the bad bad road my thoughts were about to take me and focused on the situation on hand.

"Are you going to stand there and smile at me all day or have you decided to answer the question, Max?" I added a bit of irritation to my voice so he knew that I wasn't happy with his sudden visit.

"I came here to see if you needed a ride to school", he answers cheerfully, not seeming to care that I wasn't happy.

Well, that I can live with; at least he didn't try to catch me off guard because he knew I was avoiding him.

"And also because I knew you were avoiding me so I wanted to catch you off guard".

Okay. I hate being right.

"Maria we need to talk about what happened over the summer."

What did happen over the summer you ask? An event so catastrophic and destructive that it could very well signal the end of our universe as we know it, and end many friendships, relationships, families even. We did a bad, bad, bad thing. We…

"We kissed".

Well of course when you say it like that, it sounds like no big deal.

"It meant something to me Maria and I know that the only reason you were avoiding me was that it meant something to you too".

I opened my mouth to automatically deny what Max was saying but…I couldn't. Max was right and I couldn't lie to him, even though it would be best for all to do so.

"Look, Max I don't know what this means. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't feel anything. But the truth is that whatever I may or may not feel for you I still love Michael". I looked him right in the eyes to make him understand what I was trying to say. "I don't want to be with any guy if I wasn't able to totally commit to them 100"

"I understand", Max said in a tone that said while he understood that didn't mean that he like it.

"Plus hello? What about Liz? My best friend, your ex-girlfriend/ soul mate. It wouldn't be right for me to be anything to you besides your friend".

"Liz?" Max spat. "She doesn't have anything to do with us. She left and hasn't spoken to anyone, even you, all summer. I'll lay off for Michael but you better understand this Deluca…I'm coming for you".

I don't know if it was what he said or the fact that as he was saying it he pulled me close and bent his head so that his lips were inches away from mine but my heart was beating off the charts. As he walked towards his jeep and smiled at me before he drove off all I could do was stare in wonder with a bit of lust.

I continued to stare at the spot vacated by Max as Alex and Kyle drove into my driveway. I snapped myself out of my daze, locked my front door and jumped into the backseat of Alex's Mazda.

"Was that Max driving in the opposite direction?" enquired Alex as he started to drive.

"Yes, he ambushed me this morning," they both turned to stare at me, Alex only for a second since he was driving. "Nothing happened…"

Kyle raised an eyebrow and gave me this yea right look. "Are you telling me King Maximus went out of his way to visit you and nothing happened? He was smiling when he passed us".

"Kyle, Alex…nothing happened. Okay he did that whole stare into my eyes and see into my soul thing but it's Max. It's his thing."

At the red light, Alex turned around and stared at me suspiciously. As he turned around to watch the light he asked, "You're hiding something".

I hate that he can do that.

"Well he did kiss me without the kissing. He leaned in to say something and got pretty close. But guys, it means nothing. I told him that I was loyal to Liz and Michael and he understood".

"Right, "Kyle scoffs. "You're telling me that Evans agreed with you and walked away? He's not the type".

"I never said he agreed. He said what he had to say and left".

"What?", both Alex and Kyle asked simultaneously.

"That he was coming for me, but it's not as bad as it sounds. Right?" I was hoping that my two best buddies would reassure me and kill the bad feeling that was emerging in the pit of my stomach.

Unfortunately for me, I was answered by silence for the rest of the ride to school.

Later on that Day

School got off to a great start. Music was first period and I had 2nd period with Kyle, sure it was remedial science but we can't all be science geeks like Liz or Max.

It was now lunch and as I was walking to the cafeteria I was trying to catch a glimpse of the pod squad or Liz. I hadn't seen any of them all morning and to be honest I kinda wanted to see them. I had spent most of last year in this group and even though we live in a small town I hadn't seen much of Michael, Isabelle or Tess all summer.

I was turning a corner when I hit something hard that caused me to lose my balance. But before I hit the ground, strong arms caught me and pulled me close.

Puzzled I looked up and into the hazel eyes of Michael Guerin. I stood looking at him as he looked at me. I hadn't been this close to him since he dumped me and it felt great. Heck better than great, it was amazing.

The noise of the hallway invaded the feeling and I felt my face flush as I realized where we were. He simply watched me as I pushed him away to straighten my clothes and make sure my first-day back at school hair style was still fabulous. When I was done I looked up to find him still staring.

"Uh, thanks Michael..." there was so much I wanted to say like How are you? What have you been up to all summer? And most importantly did you miss me?

"Maria", he said gruffly. "I know that we haven't spoken all summer, but I wanted to know if you wanted to come over after school. If you're not working tonight".

Whoa!?! Hold the presses. Is Michael Guerin asking me out?

"Sure", I said slowly with a simple shrug to hide my excitement, "it's not like I'm doing anything tonight."

"Good", he said nervously and walked away in classic Guerin style without a good-bye.

I couldn't move. I was literally stuck in that spot in the crowded hallway of West Roswell High. Michael wants to meet up, alone, in his apartment. This was Huge! Not huge in the 90 off shoe sale kind of way. More like here's $5000 to shop in New York City, huge.

I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to meet the guys for lunch. I smiled as I continued walking to the lunchroom feeling greater than I've felt in a long time.

That is until I spotted Max walking into the Eraser Room…followed by none other than my best friend Liz Parker.