* * 3 * *


{For several hours we had decided to get our minds off the problems that we had faced in our young lives. Max and I felt that we were too young to have such pressure placed on us. And during those precious moments I realized that in the past I had been to young to understand what true love really was. The question I had been asking myself that day was: had what Michael and I shared had really been love? Or was it just a crush that had gotten out of hand? I didn't realize that I was about to find out the answer to that question very soon. Now, enough with the rambling, let me continue on with my story.}

The first two weeks Maria and Max became really good at avoiding the people they had issues with. Maria pretty much hung out with Isabel, Alex, Tess, and Max. Maria wasn't even trying to avoid Liz but for some reason Liz was avoiding her. Maria figured it was probably because Liz felt guilty about what she did to Max and she knew that Maria and Max had gotten to be close friends. It was easy for Maria to avoid Michael. She just changed her shift at the Crashdown. Soon a month had passed and Maria and Max only spoke to Michael or in Max's case Liz when they necessarily had to. One Friday Maria was in her seventh period class study hall. She shared that class with Tess, Max, and Alex. The class was located in a room inside the school library. Their usual table, located in the back of the classroom, was currently occupied by only Maria, Tess, and Alex.

"Maria, didn't you have last period with Max? Where is he?" asked Tess.
"I don't know where Max is and frankly my dear Tess I don't give a damn. It's my birthday and he didn't even remember." Maria pouted. "Everyone remembered my birthday but him. He's supposed to be my Girlfriend."

Alex laughed. "Hey not everyone remembered. Michael didn't."

"He doesn't count." Tess stated. "Michael couldn't even remember his own ass. A good thing it's attached to his body."

They all laughed. "But seriously," Alex continued. "Max probably has a good reason for forgetting your birthday. I mean he has seemed kind of preoccupied lately. He's been avoiding Liz and Max never avoids Liz."

"Yeah you're probably right." Maria stated not wanting to explain why Max was avoiding Liz. She started frowning when a thought of Kyle came to her mind. He had been acting as if nothing had went on between him and Liz. He was still sniffing after Tess as if nothing was wrong. For the life of her she would never understand men. She snapped back into attention when she realized someone was talking to her.

"Maria?" Max snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Girl I thought you went to another land the way you were looking."

"Max where were you?" Asked Tess.

"I had to stop by the science lab to finish up a project I was working on." He turned back to Maria. "So are you going into work after school?"
"No. Remember I told you I was taking off today because it's a special day?" She hinted.

"Oh? What's so special about today?" Max asked with a smirk. He knew it was Maria's birthday. He even had a surprise planned for her. Tess, Isabel, and Alex knew about the surprise. Their job was to keep Maria distracted while he got everything set up.

"Oh shut up Max. Gosh you make me sick." She refused to talk to him through out the rest of the class time. When the final bell rung they all gathered up their books and headed out of the class.

"Ria, do you need a ride home?" Asked Max.

"Ahh it's amazing. You remembered that I'm without a car. Nice to know your memory comes and goes." She said sarcastically.

"Just hush up and answer the question."

"Yeah I need a ride. Just let me go to my locker first."

"Max, Alex and I are going to go meet up with Isabel and Liz. We'll catch up with you two later." Said Tess as she and Alex went their separate ways.

Max followed Maria to her locker. They both were a little pissed when they noticed Liz and Michael standing next to their locker talking to Kyle and Isabel. Maria planted a fake smile on her face and walked up to her locker. Max reluctantly followed he was definitely not in a mood to be around Liz or Kyle.

"Hey you guys." Said Isabel as soon as they walked up.

"Hey Is. Hey Liz, Kyle." Maria replied intentionally leaving out Michael. She went to her locker and opened it. She let out an excited shriek when she noticed what was inside. "Oh my God. This is the birthday bear. It's so cute."

She picked up the large teddy bear that could barely fit in her locker. It was pure white with a shiny pink bow around the neck. On the bottom of the left foot her name was sewn in pink letters. On the right foot was her age seventeen. Tucked into the ribbon around the bear's neck was a card.

"Who's it from Maria?" Asked Liz also with excitement.

"I don't know yet. Let me read the card." She opened up the card and read it aloud. It said:

Maria,

I give this to a very special friend on her very special day. You thought I forgot, but who could ever forget someone as wonderful and beautiful as you. Happy Birthday!

Love Max

P.S. If you think this is all I'm getting you then, I have to say that you are sadly mistaken. Look in your jacket pocket and prepare to be really amazed.

Maria eagerly reached for her jacket that was hanging up in her locker. While she did that Liz took the letter from her before she dropped it. She was a little jealous and how much Max was going all out for Maria's birthday. After all Max used to be her boyfriend and not Maria's. She sighed and pushed her self pity to the back of her mind.

"Oh Max it's so beautiful. Thank you so much." Maria held up the gold X&O bracelet that Max had bought for her. It had tiny diamonds chips between each letter. "Oh I'll cherish this forever Max. You're a great girlfriend."

"Hey what about me?" Asked Isabel with a fake pout. "I helped him pick it out."

Maria laughed and gave Isabel a huge hug. "Thank you too Isabel. You have great taste."

"Way to go Evans. You sure do know how to charm the ladies." Said Kyle raising his hand to high five Max but he immediately pulled away when Max shot him an evil glare.

"Yes he's very good at that." Said Michael sarcastically.

Maria totally ignored him and held out her wrist to Max. "Here Max. Put it on me. Oh I can't wait until I show Tess and Alex." She gushed excitedly.

"They already saw it. They were in on this surprise too." Said Is.

"Why wasn't I included in the surprise?" Asked a very hurt Liz.

"It was a spur of the moment thing." Replied Max. "They were with me when I thought it up. So anyway it's time to get going. I don't relish being up at the school while it's out. Very boring ya know."

"Carry Shay for me Max." Ordered Maria.

Isabel raised one eyebrow inquiringly. "Shay?"

"Yeah." Said Maria with a laugh. "That's what I'm going to name my new bear. Shay."

"Ahh. Okay. Whatever floats your boat." Max picked up Shay while Maria closed her locker.

* * * * * * * *

"Umm, you do realize that you passed my house about ten minutes ago?" Asked a very confused Maria 20 minutes later.

"Yeah I know." He said noncommittally.

"So are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"Not really. It's a surprise. You'll see when we get there."

"Will you tell me how long it's going to take us to get there?"

"No. Maybe if you close your eyes and go to sleep we'll be there by the time you wake up." He suggested. She rolled her eyes in frustration and settled back in her seat.