Chapter 2

"Guerin, we've gotta talk," Maria started right in. No sense trying to make small talk with Michael Guerin. "Stop that! I know you hear me," she said, slapping his arm.

Michael had seen her coming across the quad. Trying to ignore the way her shiny blonde hair bounced and the curve of her hip in those tight jeans, he had kept his nose buried in his psych book. He didn't need any trouble from Maria DeLuca.

"Hey, I need some information," she dove right in.

Raising his eyes up, he felt his body catch as he looked right into her bright blue eyes. Gruffness his only defense, he growled, "And I should help you................why?"

"Cause you know you can't resist me," she half-heartedly teased, wishing it were true. Michael was the only boy who had never tried to kiss her, so, of course, he was the only boy she wanted.

Michael snorted. "Resist you, DeLuca? That's damn easy. It's like resisting the flu."

"Yeah, but you catch it anyway," she grinned.

"There are shots," he retorted.

"Or you could just go to bed and endure it for 10 days," Maria wiggled her eyebrows.

"You wish," he snapped.

They both had the same thought at exactly the same moment. "Yes, I do wish." Then it was gone. Bickering was much easier, much safer. Michael knew that one honest moment with Maria would be his undoing. Maria knew that there was something about Michael, something deeper than she wanted to go.

"So...help you what?" Michael interrupted her thoughts.

"Ah..," she started. "I think we have a mutual problem. Tell me if I'm wrong. You're Max Evans' friend?"

"So? You already know that," he frowned. Lord, did she want Max too?

"Well, I have this friend...and she won't admit it but she's interested in him big time, won't even go out with anyone else," Maria said, trying to be mysterious.

A slow grin started to spread across Michael's face. "You wouldn't be referring to Liz Parker, would you?"

"How did you guess?" she frowned. "I didn't say anything." Now Maria was worried that she'd given Liz's secret away and to the one person she shouldn't have. Her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes big and wide.

"Nah," Michael laughed. "He's doing the same thing. I just figured they're both too shy to do anything about it."

"Max Evans ! Shy?" Maria giggled. "Doesn't he look in the mirror?"

"I know - it's a kick listening to him," Michael laughed, "but he has a major jones going for little miss science project. I can't make him ask her out though."

"What does he say when you bring it up?" Maria asked, amazed that she and Michael were sharing a normal conversation and that Max Evans, the best looking boy in West Roswell High, was too shy to ask her best friend out. Liz would die !

"Mainly, shut up," Michael snorted.

"Oh Liz too. Liz too," Maria chuckled. "I can't get her to even talk to him except about school."

"Well, I can tell you right now that school is NOT primary on Max's mind when he gets around Liz," Michael grinned.

"Oh, here he comes," Maria whispered. "Let's mess with him a little. Hey, Max!" she raised her voice.

Max frowned. What was Maria DeLuca doing with Michael? He said he couldn't stand her. Where was Liz? He looked around quickly but didn't see her.

Maria and Michael exchanged amused glances. They both knew exactly what........or who, Max was looking for.

"How's it hangin', Maxwell?" Michael greeted his best friend.

"Huh? God, Michael," Max grimaced, flashing an embarrassed glance at Maria.

"So ! Max !" Maria smiled, "Ready for the big game Friday?"

"I guess," he answered. "I practice as much as I can."

"Yeah, to keep his mind off other stuff," Michael teased.

"What other stuff?" Maria asked, innocently, watching Max's face as he struggled not to yell at Michael in front of her.

"Oh, you know, school and...and....," he cast around for reasons to give her.

"I have a lot on my mind."

"Yeah," Michael laughed. Max sent him a look but Michael just kept grinning.

"So, you have a date for the dance?" Maria chimed in, knocking the wind out of Max's lungs.

"Uh, no. I'll be too tired after the game," he said lamely.

"Oooookay," Maria answered, her face blank. "Hey ! Liz !" she called out, causing Max to spin around, unable to keep from looking for her.

Maria and Michael traded looks. "We are so bad," they were both thinking.

Liz stumbled on the steps. Maria was sitting with Michael Guerin but it wasn't Michael she saw. Max was standing right by their table looking right at her. Usually graceful, she tripped over nothing, causing her books to go tumbling willynilly. Embarrassed, she dropped to her knees and frantically reached out only to find his big hands stilling her little ones.

"Here let me get those for you," he breathed near her ear. Gathering her things quickly, he rose and held out his hand. A blush colored her cheeks as she slipped her tiny hand into his and felt his fingers close over hers. Just what she had always wanted to feel, just where she had always wanted to be, but not for the right reasons. Knowing he was just being "Max", she sighed and let him pull her to her feet. Her eyes down, she missed the look of pure longing in his amber eyes.

Max wanted to pull her up and into his arms. He wanted to gather her to him, kiss her until she couldn't breathe, show the world how he felt, but......

he couldn't. She didn't feel the way he did. His eyes lost their shine and, by the time she did look into his face, he was Max Evans again.

Maria and Michael watched all this with twinkling eyes. "Oh yeah!" Michael laughed, "They need help."

"And we're just the ones to get them together," Maria giggled.

"Come eat with us, Liz," Maria called.

"Since when was I eating with you?" Michael groused.

"Hush !" she kicked him under the table and turned a bright smile up towards her best friend, patting the seat next to her. Liz looked at Max, who was looking at the ground. Unable to tell if he wanted her to stay or go, she started to leave. "I've got.....I've got a paper due in Trig. I...I really should go to...."

Suddenly Max looked up and his eyes were full of hope. He caught her glance and held it. "It's not due til Friday," he said softly. "Eat with us, Liz." his voice held her there; his eyes held her there.

"So, Liz, you gonna go watch 'The Man' play b-ball?" Michael drawled, his leg getting numb from Maria's foot.

Liz cut her eyes at Max and then down. "No," she said softly. "I have to work."

"Liz, you do not..................." Maria felt the blood leave her arm as Liz's fingers clenched down - hard !

Max jerked his eyes up. She didn't really have to work then? She just doesn't want to come. I've gotta go," he said in a rush. "I've gotta......," he left so quickly no one heard the excuse.

"MARIA !!!" Liz moaned. "I told him I had to work. Now look what you've done!"

"Why did you lie, Chica? He obviously wants you to go to the game."

"Maria, hush ! Michael............." Liz hissed.

"Oh, don't mind him, he knows the whole story," she grinned at Michael.

"WHAT? MARIA !!" Liz groaned. "You told him? MARIA !!"

"Calm down, Kiddo," Michael chuckled. "Believe me, he won't care that you fibbed if you show up. You've got him all tied up in knots."

"Me? Max? No way !" she gasped, peeking at Michael from under her lashes - "Really?" she asked softly.

"He wants you to go to the game. That's all I'll say," Michael answered, and when Maria started to add more, he silenced her with a look. She arched her eyebrow, but surprisingly - shut up !

"So, are you going to the game?" Maria begged. "Say you'll go. Pleeease!"

"I.....I can't go by myself. You have a date," Liz sighed.

Maria thought she saw a flicker of something in Michael's eyes before he spoke up. "I'll take you if you want. Not a date or anything; just take you.

But not to the dance - I don't do the dance thing."

Liz looked at Maria who was suddenly studying her tofu pita very carefully. She wanted to go so much but was Maria upset?

Maria's eyes caught hers. For a second, Liz saw disappointment, but then she laughed and said, "Great idea ! We can double." They turned back to look at Michael.

"Uh - no ! I don't do the double thing either," he growled. "You go dancing with Jed Gannon. We'll be just fine."

"How did you know...........?" Maria spluttered but Michael was already walking away. Turning back, he barked, "7:30. Friday. Be ready. I don't like waiting."

Liz sat, her mouth open, as Maria muttered and mumbled about how stupid Michael Guerin was until finally she interrupted, "Max really wants me to go?"

"Liz, sweetie, I think he wants a lot more than that," she answered. "I wonder what Michael's gonna tell him about taking you."

Max spent the rest of the day feeling horrid. "She didn't even want to go to the game. Had to work !! That was as bad as Have to wash my hair !" He grumbled to himself as he slammed his locker shut. He felt Michael ease up beside him and lean against the lockers.

"Hey Maxwell. Bad mood, huh?" he said innocently.

"Shut up, Michael," Max growled. "You were there. You heard her. She doesn't have to work. She just said that so she wouldn't have to come to the game. Damn!" His fist hit the locker, denting the metal.

"Whoa ! You're blowin' your cool, Maxwell," Michael laughed as people turned to gawk at them. "I got something to tell you but I don't wanna get my face dented," he added.

"WHAT?" Max griped. "It can't be worse than this !"

Michael stepped back out of fist range and said, trying to keep his face straight, "She is going to the game, Maxwell."

Max froze. "With who?" he growled. "I'll kill him !"

Michael took another step back. Maybe this wasn't as funny as he'd first thought. Hands up, feigning fear, he said, "Me."