* * Prologue * *


"Do you think we should tell them?"

"I don't know, what do you think?"

"I asked you first."

"So I asked you second."

"Nu uh, I said it first so....you tell me."

"I don't know, what do you think?"

"I think we're going round in circles and it's getting us nowhere."

"I agree, people are starting to stare at us."

"So we tell them?"

"Is that what you want to do?"

"Yeah....You??"

"Yeah."

"Alrighty then, lets go........"

He took hold of her head and led her inside.


* * * 1 * * *

Michael was bored, Isabel and Tess had been talking about clothes since they came in almost an hour ago. He didn't even bother trying to talk with Alex or Kyle, they had nothing to say that Michael wanted to hear. He was about to give up and leave when he looked up and saw Maria and Max walk in. His heart pounded in his chest like it always did when Maria was close. He saw Max say something to her, she smiled. Something didn't feel right about the way they were standing together. Michael's eyes wandered down until they stopped at their linked hands. He growled in his throat.

"Michael?"

Isabel had heard his growl and was looking at him strangely, she poked at his arm when he didn't answer her.

"Hello. Michael, what are you growling at?"

Michael tore his eyes from the scene in front of him and looked at Isabel, he had gone deathly white.

"Tell me I'm seeing things, tell me Max and Maria aren't holding hands."

"WHAT!?"

Isabel's eyes spun in the direction of Max and Maria, they were holding hands. Isabel pushed Michael out of the booth and stalked towards them.

"Oh shit, Max I don't think I can do this."

Maria tried to pull her hand away but Max kept a strong hold of it.

"We said we were going to tell them the truth. Maria I'm tired of hiding my feelings for you, it's time they knew the truth."

She fought down the nausia that was rising inside her but she stopped trying to pull her hand from his. Isabel stopped a few feet from them.

"What the hell are you two doing?"

Max looked at her calmly.

"We came in for something to eat."

"Don't play games with me Max, what the hell are you doing holding Maria's hand?"

Max looked down at their linked hands, he winked at Maria, she gave him a shy smile back.

"Well, isn't that what people do when they're a couple and dating?"

"Dating! Dating! You can't date Maria."

"Why?"

"WHY! God isn't it obvious? Michael is besotted with her and what about Liz? I thought she was the love of your life."

"Me too, show's you how deceiving love can be and as for Michael, he was the one who didn't want to be with Maria, more fool him."

There was a crash across the restaurant, all heads turned in that direction. Liz stood staring at them, plates smashed at her feet, she put a hand to her mouth and fled through to the back.

Maria's hand slipped out of Max's, she ran after Liz. Max shouted after her, she looked back and held up her hand to stop him following. Maria ran up the stairs to Liz's room. She lifted her hand to knock but stopped when she heard Liz's sobs coming from inside. She knocked softly.

"Liz."

"Go away."

"Can I come in?"

"No. I said go away, just leave me alone."

"I just want to explain......"

The door opened suddenly, Liz's eyes were red, her nose was running but her stance told Maria that she was furious.