"What's that smile for?" Isabel Evans asked Michael Guerin.
"Huh? Oh, nothing. I'm just in a good mood," Michael said. More than a good mood. After last night he was in a great mood.
"Really? What happened?" Isabel asked. "I could use some good news."
"Nothing happened. Can't a guy just be in a good mood?"
"Not when the guy has had a perpetual scowl since he was born," Isabel said. "Spill, Michael, what's going on?"
"I'm passing all of my classes," he lied. He was, but that wasn't why he was happy.
"That's great," Isabel said. "Hey, have you seen Max yet today?"
"No, why?"
"He's doing something I don't think he should."
"What?"
"Asking Liz to that dance on Friday."
Michael nearly dropped his books. "What? I thought we were all going in a big group."
"We were, but Max wants to take Liz exclusively. I'm just afraid she's gonna say no. I think she's got her eye on someone else these days." Isabel was looking at her French notebook so she didn't see Michael's worried expression.
"Really? Who?" He tried to tone it down a bit. "I mean, I'm just curious and all."
"I don't know. I'm not even sure I'm right. Just a feeling I get. You two have been talking a lot lately, has she said anything to you?"
"No. But you know we mostly talk about school and work. Nothing too personal."
"Right." Isabel nodded.
Michael looked over her shoulder down the hall to see Liz heading into the eraser room alone. He conspicuously looked around for Max and didn't see him anywhere. "Hey Iz, I'll see ya later, okay?"
"Okay," Isabel said, a worry line appearing on her forehead. "Hey, if you see Tess do not mention this to her."
"My lips are sealed." Michael headed down the hall and before he went into the eraser room he looked around. Then he opened the door and slipped in before he locked it behind him.
"We're gonna hurt everyone," Liz said as Michael turned around. She was sitting Indian style on a table. "Max, Maria, everyone."
Michael sighed. "They'll get over it."
"When? I just had this horrible daydream of being a little old lady in a nursing home having a catfight with Maria, watching you and Max duel with canes."
Michael hid a smile.
"It's not funny," Liz said.
"No it's not." Michael stood in front of her and made her look at him. "It's also not fair to chuck something before we see where it goes."
"Who said anything about chucking anything?"
Michael nodded. "Liz, do something for me?"
"Anything."
"Forget about Max, Maria, Isabel, Tess, Alex, and Kyle for just a second and concentrate. What do you want?"
"You," came the simple reply. "God help me, Michael, I want you."
"God help us both," Michael said pulling her into his arms.
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