Liz awoke the next morning practically glowing with happiness. She could feel it, like a warmth, deep inside of her, leaving her feeling giddy. The whole world seemed to be a brighter place, as she went through her morning routine, a smile lighting up her face. Even the simple things seemed outrageously wonderful this morning, as her shower was the perfect temperature, her hair dried perfectly into shape, her clothes looked adorable on her as she stood in front of the mirror applying her makeup.
She wanted to look perfect today…she wanted to knock her boyfriend off his feet when he saw her walk into the biology lab.
Satisfied with her appearance, Liz bounced into the kitchen, grabbing a bagel for breakfast, before heading downstairs just as Maria pulled up in front of the Crashdown to take her to school.
Nothing could bring her down today. Maria was in a particularly vile mood because of some fight that she and Michael had the day before, and she was totally consumed with he latest decision that Michael had some serious groveling ahead of him to make it all up to her. All Liz could do was laugh, smile, and agree with her.
Maria went through a phase like this about once a week…it was a regular occurrence. And Liz knew exactly what the outcome would be. Maria would see Michael in their period 2 art class, she would pretend to be angry, he would pretend to not care, and then the moment the class ended they would rush off to the eraser room to "make up".
Liz just smiled and nodded, as Maria continued on about what scum Michael was…when suddenly her thoughts began to drift back to two days earlier, when Liz had first seen Max in the hallway. Maria had called him scum then too…and she had obviously believed it whole heartedly, even though Liz knew without a doubt that it was far from the truth, having spend almost two whole days consumed by Max…either in person or in her thoughts.
So why did Maria hate him so much?
The moment Maria pulled into her parking spot at school, Liz leapt up, grabbing her backpack.
"Hey Maria…I have to go. I need to talk to my teacher before class…see you at lunch?"
Maria's jaw dropped in shock as Liz ran from the car without even waiting for an answer.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Liz hurried quickly through the hallways towards Max's locker. She couldn't get there fast enough, and breathed a sigh of relief when she approached, Max and Michael talking quietly as Max dropped his books in his locker.
Max's eyes found hers as she strode up to them, a determined glint in her eye, as she smiled brightly at Max, before turning quickly to Michael.
"Michael…why does Maria hate Max so much?"
Max's jaw dropped. It was one of the last things he would have ever expected to come from Liz's lips at that moment. Michael's eyes widened briefly in surprise, and he got an uncomfortable expression on his face as he glanced from Liz, to Max, and back to Liz again.
"Maria hates me?" Max wondered. It was news to him.
"Well, yeah…actually she kind of does." Michael confirmed, glancing at Liz before responding gently. "But I think that's something you and Max need to find out yourself…Max told me about the flashes…maybe something will eventually pop up in them."
"Michael….Max and I are together now…and Maria's my best friend. I need her to be able to accept us." Liz sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration.
"She will." Michael agreed gently. "But you know how stubborn Maria is. Sometimes she needs a good slap in the face to realize how pig-headed she's being. Once she realizes how much good you and Max are doing each other she'll back off." A mischievous grin broke out on Michael's face. "In fact…today might be a perfect day to break the good news to her. I have an idea…."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"So, are you ready to show Maria how insanely in love we are?" Liz asked Max with an evil grin, as she met him at his locker at the beginning of the lunch period.
"I don't think it will be too difficult." Max laughed back, as they turned together and began heading towards the quad, where Maria was waiting for Liz at their regular lunch spot.
"Let's go over the plan one more time." Liz suggested. "We go up to Maria, I introduce you as my boyfriend…" Liz explained.
"We act insanely cute." Max took over for her. "We get all wrapped up in each other, as we tell go over how much time we've been spending together."
"You grab me and passionately kiss me." Liz reminded him. "We get even further wrapped up in each other, which shouldn't be too hard because of the flashes. Maria sees how happy we are together."
"We remind her again and again how happy we are together." Max continued.
"Hopefully she'll get it pounded into her thick skull how happy we are together and take a hint." Liz finished, glancing up at Max one last time. "Are you ready for this?"
"Of course." Max agreed, stopping and turning to her. "We have to be pretty realistic about this. She'll notice if we aren't touching. I'll try to keep it light, to avoid too many intense flashes, but…" Max trailed off, and moved to take her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. She sighed happily at the brief contact, smiling up at him as it quickly came.
They stood on the edge of the bridge, their fingers laced together…it was a significant moment. Regardless of how hard the past few weeks had been, at this moment they were together, they were strong, and they were ready to face anything together. In a moment of passion, Max leaned down and captured her lips, kissing her for bravery, for strength…and for remembrance, just in case it was the last time. And then together, in perfect unison, they jumped…
Liz blinked as she returned to reality, shaking the flash out of her head, as she squeezed Max's hand tighter, and they headed into the quad, where Maria waited for them. She was sitting with Michael, gesturing wildly about something…probably his latest fault, when she saw them approaching from behind Michael's back.
It was amazing how someone could literally look like they were about to explode. Maria's eyes widened, her jaw dropped, and she turned about five different shades of red in a matter of seconds at the sight of Max and Liz, and their cuddly, connected hands.
Liz turned and looked up at Max's smiled with a practiced lovesick look in her eyes.
"Uh oh…" Liz mumbled through her grin. "She looks like she's going to kill us both."
"Don't worry Liz." Max replied, gazing seriously into her eyes. "If there's any way I can win her over, I will."
Liz giggled for effect, before replying. "Do you think that was enough of a performance?"
"Probably…lets do this."
A few more yards, and they were approaching Maria, grinning up at each other before turning to their friend.
"Hey Maria!" Liz greeted cheerfully. "Hi Michael. You guys both know Max."
"Liz?" Maria asked with a pointed look, gesturing to the side with her head in an obvious 'we need to talk, now' gesture, but Liz chose to ignore it, grinning up at her boyfriend, and winking, before turning back to her friend.
"Maria…Max and I met…again…in biology class. We're lab partners, and…well…we've been spending a lot of time together the past few days…it's been absolutely…"
"Amazing." Max murmured dreamily, finishing for her.
"Yeah…amazing." Liz replied, fading back into the daze she felt every time she and Max had a moment.
"And where have I been during all of this?" Maria asked in a frigid voice, breaking their moment.
"I don't know…working…fighting with Michael. The usual. Anyway…Max and I are together…again."
"So you guys figured out about before?" Michael asked curiously.
"Not everything." Max explained quickly, trying to pull his attention away from Maria. "But we've been slowly putting the pieces together through the flashes."
"You guys are having flashes again!" Maria suddenly exploded, throwing her hands in the air and letting out a wail of frustration.
Three pairs of eyes whipped around to Maria in shock. She froze, and blushed slightly at her extreme reaction, before turning her concern onto Liz.
"Liz…you've been kissing him?" Maria interrogated her friend angrily. "What in the hell were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I'm in love, Maria." Liz replied softly. "And it wasn't just when we kissed. We get flashes together all the time, any time we're touching. Max is the first person who has been able to help me remember anything…"
"So you're using him for the flashes?" Maria cut her off.
"No…of course not." Liz rebutted quickly. "The flashes came later…the feelings came first. I've known Max since the first time I saw him. I knew that I wanted to get to know him even before you told me anything about him. And since the first time we talked I knew that you were overreacting from your opinion of him."
"Liz…you have no idea what you're getting yourself in to." Maria argued.
"Actually I know a lot more than you think." Liz disputed, her voice cool. She never expected Maria's reaction to be quite so drastic.
"I don't think you do." Maria sighed, her tone gentler. "Because I know you, Liz. And I know that you wouldn't get involved with Max again if you knew everything."
"I know enough, Maria." Liz announced, her voice final. "I know him…I know who he is, and I know that he loves me. Anything else we can work through."
"I agree." Max replied softly, turning his wide eyes to Maria and addressing her directly for the first time. "I don't know what I did that was so horrible, Maria…but I know that I love Liz with all my heart. Being with her is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced in my memory…and I would do anything for her…give her the world if I could. I think…she's my soulmate."
A heavy silence hung in the air, as Maria gazed disapprovingly at the couple. Michael had an amused smirk on his face, and all Max and Liz saw was each other. Max's words had rushed straight to Liz's heart, filling her once again with the warmth that was missing since that morning…and neither Maria or Michael could deny the way the couple glowed as they lost themselves in each other's eyes.
Unable to wait another moment, Max grasped Liz's face in his hands, and firmly brought his lips down to meet her, determined to make his point to Maria…and eager to feel the warmth of Liz's embrace once more.
And neither of them could prepare themselves for the rush of pain that filled both their hearts as the flashes overtook their minds.
