Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 7

(Monday, October 23)

Liz hurried to her locker. She had just arrived at school and there were only a few minutes before the bell rang for her first class. She was late because she'd hardly gotten any sleep. Her mind had been too active.

She'd replayed Max's kiss over and over in her head, savoring the sweetness, and wanting more. It felt like her whole body had come alive again when she was in his arms. She felt like she had when they were looking for the orb, hot and shivery, like she couldn't get close enough to him and only his touch would give her relief.

When Max was in her room last night, he said he'd never give her up, and she was so tempted just to give in to him.

The small amount of sleep she had gotten was full of dreams. Erotic dreams. Max's hands and mouth all over her, touching, caressing, arousing. Slowly they peeled off each others' clothes, exploring, their naked skin pressed together.

She'd had similar dreams before, but last night they had been so vivid, almost like it had really happened. And the strange thing was that Max kept turning into Zan.

It didn't mean anything, she told herself. Zan looked like Max, she'd been spending a lot of time with him recently, and he'd surprised her with the Shakespeare quotation. She wasn't attracted to him or anything.

The thing she was worried about was Max's attitude toward Tess.

He said he'd never be with her and Liz had no idea what to do about it. Would it be enough for her to stay away from Max?

"Hey, Liz," a deep voice rumbled behind her.

She turned, not even surprised. "Max."

Against her will her eyes bounced from his eyes to his lips and traveled quickly over his muscular arms. A shiver of desire ripped through her as her dream came back to her, and she forced her gaze to meet his.

"How are you?" He asked.

"Fine," she said, turning away to shut her locker, so she could regain control of herself. "How are you?"

"Good," he said absently. "Liz, I wanted you to know that I didn't mean to upset you last night, but I meant what I said. I love you, and I want to be with you."

She shook her head. "Max, you know why we can't be together."

Clutching her books to her chest, she didn't even look at him as she started down the hall.

Max followed her. "I know you're scared, but all we have to do is talk to Tess and make sure she's okay with it."

Liz glanced at him. "Max, she's not going to be okay with it."

"We won't know until we ask her," he said. "And if she's okay with it, you're out of excuses."

Liz stopped, turning to Max, and pulling him aside. "Max," she said, trying not to sound panicked, "you can't ask her. You promised. She's still expecting you to get together, and you will basically be telling her that she has no chance with you."

Max shook his head. "I've told her that many times already, and she doesn't have any reason to think it's changed."

"Yes, she does," Liz said. "I told her I don't want to be with you, and I tried to get you together, remember?"

"No," Max said, "just because I'm not with you, doesn't mean I want her."

"That's exactly what Tess thinks," Liz told him. "She sees me as the only obstacle between you. She thinks you would be together if it weren't for me."