(17) How Do I Say 'I Love You'
Two months had passed since Tess’ horrifying experience. To say that everything went back to normal would have been a total untruth. The friendship between Maria, Isabel, and Tess was filled with a closeness that neither girl had experienced with any other female their own age before. They were like sisters that they never had.
Alex learned to lighten up his overbearing attitude when it came to being a big brother. He didn’t bat a lash anymore whenever Isabel and Kyle went out on a date. He did, however, draw the line at letting them a make out marathon whenever the parentals were away.
Kyle didn’t get expelled for beating the crap out of Michael once it became known what those bastards did to Tess. Instead they just suggested that he enroll in a few anger management classes. Through those classes he discovered a fascination with Buddhism. Tess teased him mercilessly about it, calling him her very on ‘Buhda Boy’.
Despite the changes one thing still managed to remain the same. If anything it has gotten worse. Max’s inability to tell Maria how he felt was driving the guys totally insane. The ragged on him about it ever single day.
“Max you’re an idiot.” Kyle stated simply as he grabbed a coke out of the fridge. “You heard it straight from her mouth. She loves you. You love her. So, what is the fucking problem?
Alex smirked as Kyle plopped down on the couch. They were spending a lazy Sunday at Valenti’s place. “Easy answer. He’s a coward.”
Max snorted. “Look who’s talking? You’re not exactly spouting off your feelings to the girl of your dreams.”
Alex sent Max a look that told him to be quiet. Kyle looked at him in curiosity. “Who is she, man? How come I’m the last to know?”
Alex tried to throw him off the subject. “We weren’t talking about me.”
“Com one Alex. Tell Kyle who she is.” Max teased. “Ouch you’re killing me with that look.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “Go moon over Maria.”
“At least I admit that I’m in love with an angel.” Max laughed.
“Just not to said angel.” Kyle clarified with a smile.
“Have you ever thought that maybe I don’t want to be as whipped as you?” Max pointed out.
Kyle’s mouth opened and closed a few times. He was at a loss for words. Max took advantage. “Poor Kyle, whipped like butter.”
“Just… just because I like to spend time with my girl and watch romantic comedies every now and then, doesn’t mean that I’m whipped.”
“Hey, you’re not whipped Kyle.” Alex deadpanned. “All guys love carrying a woman’s purse around through the mall.”
Max and Alex burst out laughing at the thunderous look on Kyle’s face.
Next Day – Play Rehearsal
Maria walked off of the balcony into the set room. Max jumped down from his spot on the balcony. A look of pure pleasure graced his face.
He spoke. “Maria…”
Then he began to sing.
The most beautiful sound I ever heard:
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria . . .
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word . .
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria . . .
Maria!
I've just met a girl named Maria,
And suddenly that name
Will never be the same
To me.
Maria!
I've just kissed a girl named Maria,
And suddenly I've found
How wonderful a sound
Can be!
Maria!
Say it loud and there's music playing,
Say it soft and it's almost like praying.
Maria,
I'll never stop saying Maria!
The most beautiful sound I ever heard.
Maria.
“That was perfect Mr. Colvin. You have such a natural talent.” Gushed the Drama teacher.
Max blushed. “Thanks sir.”
Maria chose that moment to run up to him and jump into his arms. “We’re going to tear the house down on opening night.” She said with a huge grin.
Max laughed, loving the feeling of having her in his arms. “You think?”
Isabel shouted from off the stage. “Hell yeah.”
The chorus teacher looked at her sternly. “There will be no cursing Ms Evans.”
“Sorry sir.” She smiled prettily.
He laughed. “Get up here, you and Maria are up I want y’all to perform A Boy Like That/I Have Loved.”
“A phooey, I want to sing America.” Isabel pouted.
“Less fuss more muss.”
Max watched the two girls sing, totally absorbed in every move, every action Maria made. Alex and Kyle were right he was an idiot. He had the perfect opportunity to obtain his moment of true happiness and instead he was acting like an angst-ridden fool. He was so busy debating how to tell her how he felt when the answer was in his face all along. A song that he heard on the radio earlier came to mind;
A foreign beauty so exotic
When she smiled at me
She took my breath away
She's reminiscent of a goddess
It's a shame that we could not communicate
How do I say
How do I say hello?
I just wanna talk to you
How do I say you're beautiful
When I can't take my eyes off you
I don't wanna say the wrong thing
I want just the right words to impress you
Mujer bonita, how do I say, how do I say?
How do I say?
The room was filled with a sweet arom
When she danced her hips moved oh so sensuous
She speaks with her body, so united
In the language that I will never forget
I hear her calling
Spinning around in the crowd cause she found me
And when she started moving closer and closer
Does she know that i want her, I want her
I wanna be with her tonight
So I caressed her face, kissed her lips
In my life, I've never felt like this
I've never had a lost for words
One kiss from her has got me feenin'
How do I say hello?
I just wanna talk to you
How do I say you're beautiful
When I can't take my eyes off you
I don't wanna say the wrong thing
I want just the right words to impress you
Mujer bonita, how do I say, how do I say?
How do I say hello?
I just wanna talk to you
How do I say you're beautiful
When I can't take my eyes off you
I don't wanna say the wrong thing
I want just the right words to impress you
Mujer bonita, how do I say, how do I say?
How do I say hello?
I just wanna talk to you
How do I say you're beautiful
When I can't take my eyes off you
I don't wanna say the wrong thing
I want just the right words to impress you
Mujer bonita, how do I say, how do I say?
“Earth to Max.” He looked up a little disoriented at the hand waving in his face. Maria laughed and sat in the seat next to him. “What had you so lost in thought hun?”
He turned to face her. Her beautiful green eyes stared intently at him. He sucked in a calming breath and asked. “The night of the party you wanted to ask me something but never got around to it. What did you want to ask me?”
Maria immediately began to worry her bottom lip with her teeth. He stared hungrily at her mouth but she seemed not to even notice it. She released a sigh before raising her eyes to focus back on him.
“I… well um… I… was feeling lonely that night. Even though I was experiencing what I always thought I had wanted I couldn’t help but think that I deserved any of it. You asked me if I was happy and I gave you an answer that I figured you wanted to hear.” She shook her head. “No, I take that back. I wanted to make myself believe that I was happy.
“The question I was going to ask you was this. If I had replied that I wasn’t happy with the way things had been going, what would you have done?”
Max didn’t even take the time to think about it before replying. “I would have swept you away from it all. I would have carried you off to my car and drove away to someplace private and I would have spent the rest of the night hell the rest of my life making sure that every minute, every second of your life was filled with nothing but joy.”
Maria gasped at the vehemence and sincerity of his statement. She couldn’t resist asking. “And now? How do you feel now?”
“Now, I would like nothing more than to will away everyone else in this auditorium making us the only two people here. That way I can pull you into my arms and show you how I feel about you rather than telling you. Words can not express my emotions when it comes to loving you.”
Her mouth opened in shock. And she managed to squeak out. “You love me?”
He could only nod. “Yes. I’ve loved you for a really long time Maria. It killed me to see you with that ass Mark and when Michael dared to touch you I wanted to rip his fucking head off.”
Maria giggled softly, reaching up her hand to wipe the frown off his face. “Oh, my ferocious little teddy bear, I love you two.”
They kissed unaware of the stares that they were amassing.
Isabel turned to Tess with a huge grin on her face. “It’s about freaking time.”
“Definitely. Those two were beginning to get on my nerves.” Tess laughed.
