"Michael!" Max greeted his friend in an impatient voice, pulling him over to the side of the hallway.
"Hey Maxwell." Michael replied, giving him a strange look like he was insane for being so rushed to see him for lunch. "What's up?"
"Michael…I need to know anything you can tell me about Liz Parker." Max pleaded, getting straight to the point.
"Definitely the same old Max Evans." Michael laughed, slapping Max on the shoulder in amusement.
"What?" Max asked, confused by his friend's reaction.
"You've always been obsessed with Liz, Max…ever since we were kids. I should have known it had something to do with her the moment you walked up…nothing's changed at all." Michael passed Max an evil grin. "So what did she do the first day of school to sweep you off your feet?"
Max sighed dreamily, leaning back against a locker.
"She's amazing, Michael."
"Yeah, I know. You've told me a million times, even if you can't remember it." Michael interrupted. "So what happened this time?"
"I met her in biology class…she's my lab partner. We only got to talk for a few minutes because of the lecture and all…but I think we made a real connection in those moments."
Michael nodded and gestured for him to continue.
"She knows what I'm going through, Michael." Max pressed, meeting Michael's eyes desperately. "She's going through it too. No one else understands…I need to be able to talk to her about it."
Michael hesitated, studying his feet as he replied. "What makes you think that you could trust her Max…you know if she said anything to just one person…"
"I know…it's dangerous. If anyone found out about my condition, then they could find out about what I am, and then all of our lives would be over…I know all of that Michael. But I can't help it. Something tells me that I can talk to her, that she'll understand…that she'll accept me. I don't know why…but I just know."
Michael took a deep breath, studying Max's reaction carefully before finally speaking his mind.
"Listen, Maxwell. I'll tell you this, and if you ever tell Isabel or Maria I said this, they'll kill me…so it's just between us. Liz is good for you. I didn't always think so, but I've seen the way you both get when you're not together. You guys deserve a chance…and I want to give you that chance."
Michael hesitated, trying to find the right words for the images in his mind before continuing.
"When you and Liz are together…you two glow. Anyone passing by can see just how connected you are…it's just plain as day. You and Liz are right for each other…and you deserve that chance together."
"If Liz and I are so right for each other, then why haven't we seen each other before today?" Max asked in frustration.
Michael sighed. "You're getting into complicated territory now, Max. I think that's something you have to find out for yourself. But you deserve the chance to find out…so I say go to her, Maxwell. Talk to her…tell her whatever you want to tell her, and then we'll deal with the consequences later. I don't know…maybe you two can help each other find regain your memories."
"Thank you Michael." Max responded genuinely, before pausing and trying to sort out everything that Michael had just told him. "I think…I need some time to process some stuff…I'll see you later?"
"Yeah…of course." Michael replied. "I'm just going to go find Maria…I haven't seen much of her today."
Michael turned and walked away, leaving Max standing there alone, shaking his head, finding himself if anything, more confused than before talking to his friend.
He and Liz had something…Michael admitted that. But what Michael wasn't saying was that something bad had happened between them…something even Michael didn't want to talk about…and something that obviously left Isabel and Maria very against him and Liz having anything to do with each other…so what was it?
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Maria." Michael greeted his girlfriend gruffly, in typical Michael fashion, as he approached where Maria and Liz sat eating lunch in the middle of the quad. "Hey Liz."
"Hey Michael." Maria grinned at her boyfriend.
"Hey…sit down and join us!" Liz suggested warmly. Michael was one of the few people she felt comfortable around after working with him all summer at the Crashdown.
"Thanks." Michael replied, scratching his head awkwardly. "But actually I was just hoping to steal Maria from you for a minute." Turning to his girlfriend he replied insistently. "I need to talk to you…it's important."
"Okay…chill, Spaceboy…I think Liz can spare me for a minute." Maria laughed, turning to Liz she announced. "I'll be right back."
Michael took Maria by the hand and led her to an empty corner of the quad, so that they were out of earshot of everyone else around. Taking a deep breath, he met her eyes seriously.
"Maria…I need your help with something."
"Of course…all you need to do is ask!" Maria replied instantly. "What's up? It doesn't have anything to do with my car, does it?"
"No…actually it's about work this afternoon. Liz invited Max to come by the Crashdown today."
"WHAAAAAAT????" Maria screeched. "Does that girl not understand the meaning of the word scum?"
"Maria, calm down." Michael ordered. "They at least deserve the chance to make their own decisions here."
"She doesn't know what she's getting her self into." Maria argued.
"No, maybe not." Michael agreed. "But she does know what she wants, and right now it's to get to know Max better. They deserve that chance Maria."
"I don't want her to get hurt again…Max killed her this past year." Maria protested softly.
"I know that Maria…and I'll bet that even deep down Liz knows that…but she's feeling a pull to him right now…and he's feeling the same pull back."
"They've always been connected." Maria objected.
"Yes…and although this does appear to be their normal connection from the outside, have you ever stopped to think what else could be lurking in there, Maria?"
Maria stared up at him cluelessly, unsure of where he was going with this.
"They could be the key to each other's memory, Maria." Michael sighed, running his hand through his hair, as he continued. "There's a reason that this is happening to both of them…they're in this together…and nothing that any of us have tried with either of them has worked so far…maybe because there's only one way for them to get their memories back…together."
Michael paused a long moment, searching Maria's eyes carefully, before finishing his thought.
"Maybe keeping them apart all of this time was the biggest mistake any of us have made."
They were silent for a long moment, while Maria pondered over everything Michael told her. She hesitated for a long time before finally responding.
"Fine…I don't like it, but your idea does have merit. I won't get in their way today."
