* * 3 * *



I was really nervous that night when Max and I went out. I didn’t say a lot during dinner and I know that Max noticed. He kept giving me these sidelong looks all through dinner. Finally he couldn’t hold back anymore. “Maria, is something wrong?” concern was obvious in his voice.

I slowly tucked my hair behind my ear as I tried to think of how to begin this conversation. “Why don’t we go for a walk in the park? There’s something I need to talk to you about.” I suggested.

Max agreed eagerly, I think I was scaring him with my silence. Quietness isn’t something I’m known for. We walked slowly down the street after leaving the restaurant. When we reached the park I grabbed his hand and faced him.

“Max, I’ve been doing some thinking. Wondering where our relationship is going.” I paused as I watch him bite his lower lip and thought about how I wanted to taste those lips. “I’ve spent the last year or so being in love with Michael and you’ve been in love with Liz forever. But I feel as though things between us has changed and I’ve come to the point that I need to know where we stand.”

I stop here to search his eyes for any clue to what he’s thinking. I see a little confusion and I think I might see some hope in those eyes also. So I plunge forward before I loose my nerve. “Max, I think I’m falling in love with you. No, I know that I am and I need to know if you feel the same way about me?” I hold my breath waiting for his reaction.

Thunder rumbles in the air and a flash of lightening slashes the sky. I look up and realize that a storm is brewing and I wonder if this is a bad sign. I look back at Max and he has a smile on his face. I never really noticed how beautiful he is when he smiles.

“I love you too. I’ve just been to afraid to say anything because I didn’t want to ruin what we have, if you didn’t feel the same way.” He pulls me to him and tilts his head toward mine. His lips are inches away from mine and I can feel his warm breathe against mine as he whispers, “ I love you Maria Deluca” and than his lips are on mine.

Rain starts the fall on us but neither of us noticed. We are too wrapped up in each other and the new love we have discovered to care. I guess the storm wasn’t a bad sign at all.

The next day I was on cloud nine just as I had predicted to Isabelle. Everything was turning out perfectly. There were only two black spots on my cloud. One was Liz and the other is staring at me from across the grill in the Crashdown.

“Michael can I talk to you?” I asked. This was not a conversation I wanted to have, but Max and I agreed that it needed to be done. Max has wanted to tell Michael himself but I convinced him that it should come from me, but now I’m not so sure.

“What’s up?” Michael asked.

“Not here. Let’s go in the back for a minute.” I started walking into the back and Michael followed me. When I reached the back room I stopped and turned to face him.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that Max and I have been spending a lot of time together lately.” He nodded and I continued, “I wanted you to hear it from me first. Max and I are dating and I just wanted to let you know.” I stopped here waiting for his reaction and it wasn’t what I expected.

“I figured. You love him?”

“Yes”

“Well I hope it works. If he hurts you, I’ll kill him. I need to get back to work now, was there anything else?” I shook my head and with that he walked away.

I think that my jaw might have hit the floor but I’m not sure because I was so stunned. When I told Max about our conversation he wasn’t at all surprised. “You talked to him didn’t you?” I asked. Reluctantly he admitted that he had talked to Michael earlier that day.

“I just didn’t want you to get hurt by anything he had to say. We shared a few words, but really he was ok with it. I think he realizes that at this point in his life he can’t give you what you need to be happy. He’s not able to give enough of himself to make anyone else happy and that’s all that he wants is for you to be happy.”

Max takes my hand in his and looks me straight in the eyes. “I will always do everything in my power to make you happy and to protect you, Maria. Michael knows that and I hope you know that too.”

“I do. That’s why I love you and why I’m not afraid to put my heart in your hands.” I lean forward to seal it with a kiss.

So that leaves only Liz to deal with. I’ve told her that Max and I have been spending a lot of time together, but nothing more. She never really wants to talk about him when she calls. I’m not sure if that’s because it hurts her too much or if she’s putting him behind her. I guess I’ll find out when she gets home tomorrow.

It took me a moment to realize what had awoken me. A glance at the clock told me it was 8:30 am, to damn early for the phone to ring on a Saturday morning.

“…hello?”

“I’m back. Sorry it’s so early but I couldn’t wait any longer.” Liz’s voice greeted me over the line. “I’m coming over, be ready.”

I hung up the phone as the dial tone buzzed in my ear.

“Oh…@#%$” the moment of truth has arrived and I’m not ready. I still have no idea how to tell her about Max and me. If she takes it badly, I don’t know what I’ll do. Liz has always been my best friend, but I love Max and I’m not giving him up. I slowly got ready as I tried to form an explanation in my mind.

The knock on my bedroom startled me and I jumped. “Come in” I called. Liz bounded into the room and gave me a hug.

“I’ve missed you so much” she said.

“Me too. You look great. Your hair looks longer and a little lighter.”

“Yeah, it is. You look great too.” She moved past me to sit on my bed.

“So.. Tell me about you trip.” I was stalling. I mean I did want to hear about her trip, but I’m stalling. I sat there and listened for a half hour as she regaled me with everything she had done the last three months, I laughed at all the right places and owed and awed when appropriate. She had really had a good time and I was glad. Then she asked me the question I had been dreading.

“So what’s been going on in Roswell?”

I walked over to my dresser and looked at myself in the mirror before turning around to face her. “Things have changed since you’ve been gone. Michael and I are official over. Way over. Alex is still running after Isabelle and she’s still running away, but not quite as fast anymore.” I say with a laugh and she laughs back at me.

“Are Max and Tess a couple yet?” she asks.

“No. Actually, Tess and Kyle are a couple now.” Oh God. I’m running out of time.

“Wow. I didn’t expect that. Is Max ok with that?” She shifts uncomfortably on the bed and my heart rate increases. “Yeah, he’s fine with it. He never wanted to get together with Tess in the first place.” I tell her and she nods at me.

“I guess I was the only one really effected by the whole destiny thing. Thinking about it the last three months I think I was using it as an excuse to break up with Max.”

“Why?”

“Nothing was ever easy for me and Max and I guess I was just tired of the struggle to be together all the time. I hope he can accept that just because I’m back doesn’t mean I want to get back with him. I’ve spent the whole summer getting over Max Evans and I don’t intend to get drawn back into that roller coaster just because he and Tess didn’t get together.” She finished with a bittersweet smile and my heart rate slows down. This is more than I could have hoped for. She’s telling me she no longer wants Max and that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.

“I’m glad to hear that because there’s something I need to tell you about Max.” I start.

“Is he seeing someone?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” hurt flashes in her eyes and I begin to suspect that she’s lying to me. “I didn’t want you to hear about this over the phone. I thought that it would be better to tell you face to face. I was really worried about your reaction, but now that you’ve told me you’re over him, I feel much better.” I pause here to see her reaction. Her face looks troubled as she studies me and than awareness clouds her face.

“You’re dating Max?”

“Yes. We started seeing each other awhile ago and made it official yesterday.” I walk up to her and take her hands in mine. “I hope that this is ok with you. I don’t want us to fight over a man, not even Max.”

She pulls me close to her and hugs me. “Of course it’s ok. I hope you’re happy together.” She says into my hair and I know she’s lying.