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A painful surge of sorrow rushed through my veins as I spot Max hanging onto Anna?s arm, walking toward the Girl?s locker room. I groaned.

I don?t know if I can stand going to soccer practice with HER again, not with Max coming to them now.

Maybe I should turn around and go home, I thought depressingly. Right when I turned around, Ms. Stephens, my soccer coach, bumped into my shoulder, knocking my sports bag to the ground, and getting the attention of Anna and Max.

Oh great. Anna smirked and kissed Max on the cheek when I looked over in their direction to confirm they had seen me, all the while Anna?s evil gaze locked on me during the peck.

She smugly walked into the girl?s locker room while Max uncomfortably walked around the building to the field and bleachers.

?I?m so sorry Liz, let me get that for you.? The voice of Coach Stephens got my attention back and I watched as she picked up my bag for me.

?Oh uh, thanks coach,? I said quietly.

?Where you headed to? The locker room is that a way.?

?Well, uh, I was gonna retrieve my water bottle in my car but I can use the one in my locker now that I think about it.?

?Well alright Liz, now hurry up and change, practice is about to start,? Coach said and began to walk to the field.

?Sure,? I mumbled under my breath sadly.

I wasn?t in the mood for soccer anymore. I haven?t been since Anna joined. She took the fun out of the sport, and demolished the reason I even joined in the first place.

I had joined in hopes that it would help get my mind off of Max and help me move on, work out my aggression, and give me the exercise I have so recently been needing.

Summer was tough, especially the 4th of July party the city held.

I can still remember a little more than two years ago when everything was normal...

Max had hooked up with Anna at that party, causing me to go through a depression because of it.

Now, three months into Senior year at West Roswell High, nothing was better. I haven?t been able to enjoy being a Senior yet, and the year is rushing by.

When Anna joined the team two weeks ago, things got worse. We?ve only played two teams this season, but both were won with the help of Anna, leaving me to feel like such a loser.

I don?t know what Anna has against me....

I walked down the row of lockers, passing by Anna and the others chattering like usual. She stared at me cruelly for a split second then smiled an overly-sweet grin.

She was talking about her date with Max the previous evening. I sighed sadly. Even though I knew she probably fabricated most of her stories just so she?d look better. I began to change for practice.

?And then you?ll never guess what Max gave me last night at the park, after we smooched for like an hour, of course,? Anna squealed, and the others giggled.

She looked at everyone slowly for dramatic effect. ?Well tell us already!? Tara squeaked. I coughed loudly so I wouldn?t hear, and Anna?s announcement was followed by squeals of laughter and chatter.

?You?re so lucky!? one girl said.

?Max is so gorgeous! The quiet dark handsome prince!? another remarked.

I still thought so, too. But what did it matter, I thought bitterly.

I finished tying my cleats and tightening my shin-guards, bending over to grab my water bottle out from the bottom of my locker and slamming it shut.

I swallowed my painful tears and tried to stay calm. Then I walked past Anna quickly without looking at her and swung the locker room door open to leave.

Anna?s laugh ripped through my heart as they talked more in detail about last night while following me out to the field.

Why me? I thought. Why do I keep getting the reminder that I can?t be with Max, that he hates me and that ANNA has him, not me. Why must I suffer.

I took a deep breath so not to show how awful I felt when I started to stretch with the rest of the girls.

It was a little bit harder concentrating especially today with Max in the stands watching. I tried to ignore it but I could feel his eyes on me.

I only wondered whether they were cruel stares or if he might be, you know, interested again....

Why fool myself, I know he isn?t. I sadly looked down as we began our 4 laps around the field.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
I couldn?t help myself but look at Liz. Even though I was just bringing more pain on myself by looking, something inside me made me want to stare at her, with that raven colored hair in those cute short shorts.

'Quit doing this to yourself Maxwell, it only makes matters worse'. A voice in
my head was always having to remind me to stop torturing myself. I know she hurt me. Badly.

And now I am with Anna.

But the fact is, Liz still grabbed my attention. I wish I could get over her for good, I thought bitterly to myself. If I knew the truth, then......

I tried focusing on Anna to get my mind off of Liz, and watched as Anna began to run, leading the team up front.

Her long, dark blonde hair in a ponytail and her tall, tanned legs made her very attractive, and her grey eyes pierced me when they lit up as she spoke.

But I can?t get myself to feel as strong feelings for Anna as I had Liz.

I tried to stop myself from thinking about . I concentrated on watching the practice, hardly waiting to be able to leave.

I would have never come if Anna hadn?t said how much it would mean to her if he?d just come and watch.

But now he knew he couldn?t come back anymore because of the pain it caused to see Liz more then usual.

'I got to get over her once and for all,' I resolved in my head, with determination.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
We started our 4 laps around the field, me trailing at the back of the pack. I didn?t have the energy to try to keep up, so I slipped behind. I didn?t care.

Then at my 3rd lap, Anna ran up next to me, on her last lap, and asked with a bitter tone, ?What?s a matter Liz??

She sprinted ahead of me with a smile of satisfaction on her face. 'I can?t let her get to me, that?s what she wants,' I thought angrily, clenching my teeth and fists.

I was looking down and hadn?t noticed the teammates stop in front of me, done with their laps. I hoped Coach didn?t notice that I wasn?t done because I couldn?t do anymore. I accidentally bumped into Sammie, Anna?s friend, because I was deep in my thoughts.

?Watch where you?re going Parker,? Sammie growled. I wasn?t in the mood to argue or anything, so I just apologized quietly.

The coach gave us drills to work on before we started the scrimmage. I played with as little enthusiasm and effort I could get away with so the coach wouldn?t be hollering at me.

Then the scrimmage started. I ended up against Anna. This can?t be good, I thought, a little frightened by what might result in me against Anna.

She loved fouling me in scrimmages when I was against her. I dragged my feet over to my position as Right Defender, unhappy.

The first part of the game was uneventful, luckily. One or two run ins, and kicking the ball only when it came straight at me.

The Coach yelled for me to get my heart into the game. I tried, but how could I? My heart was broken, so I couldn?t put it into the game.

But eventually I got into the game enough to run after the ball and be a good defender.

Near the end, Anna got a breakaway and left me the only person on my side of the field. I tried to kick at the ball, closing my eyes in fear. The I came into contact with something.

BANG!

It was Anna?s shin. Uh oh, was all I could think. I was so shocked and scared all I could mumble was ?I-I-I?m, I mean, I didn?t mean...I-I?m--?

She got up with amazing speed, stomping toward me (amazingly without a limp even with a bruised shin) and pulled her arm back.

I had just enough time to realize that she was going to punch me. She brought her fist to my face before I put my hands up and the next thing I saw were stars.

?You did that on purpose! You did that on purpose, you B*TCH!? Anna screamed as she tried to keep slugging me in the face while we were struggling on the ground. But her swings weren?t fully connecting because the coach was on top of her pulling at her shoulders, yelling to get off of me.

?It was an accident Anna! Stop it this instant!?

As soon as Anna was pulled to her feet, she took a cheap shot and kicked me in the ribs as hard as she could. I could barely breathe.

I grabbed my sides and cried out in pain, then I was pulled up to my feet. Coach yelled to someone to call my parents, that they were taking me to the hospital.

I let out a sob when the Coach grabbed me around the back, gasping with pain when she touched my side.

?Your ribs may be bruised, Lizzie, just hold on, we?ll get you taken care of.?

Coach tried to get me in her car without hurting me, but everything hurt, so it was impossible.

I looked out the window, seeing everyone muttering quietly, with worried looks on their face, and Anna standing there with a smile on her face..... with Max by her side.

'I hate my life,' I thought miserably to myself as I wailed loudly on the way to the hospital.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
When I saw Anna go down after Liz kicked her shin, my heart stopped. I got up, but tripped, then caught myself and went down the bleachers carefully, so not to trip again.

'Uh oh,' was all I could think when I saw Anna lunge at Liz. A group was forming quickly around the spot where Anna and Liz were, making it hard to see what was happening now.

As I got closer I saw Anna take a punch at Liz. Whoa. I gasped, anger rising in my stomach. Coach had pulled Anna off Liz and said Anna was suspended from the team until further notice.

Anna had a quick smile on her mouth when Liz looked up. But it wasn?t a pleasant smile. This made me angrier.

'What a monster Anna is,' I thought. So this is what she wanted all along.

I started to feel sick to my stomach, when I saw Liz get kicked in the ribs and gasp for breath.

She was mumbling ?I?m sorry? weakly. Poor Liz.

I tried to make my way through the crowd, getting to the clearing where Anna was now standing alone, smugly. Liz was being taken to the car by the field, limping painfully.

All I could do was stand there and watch, shocked by what just happened.

Right when Liz got in the car, Anna grabbed my arm and hugged it close, I looked down in horror, looking up in time to see Liz burst into sobs as she saw Anna standing there with me.

A split second later I shook Anna off me and said, ?What the hell are you doing?!?? But it was too late, Liz had saw just what Anna had wanted her to see.

?What?? Anna asked in false innocence. ?I only did what was coming to her,? Anna said, with more of a cold tone.

?Is that why you were going out with me? To torture Liz even more?? I asked with shock, just now realizing this.

?That?s part of it, sure. But you are deliciously handsome too.? Anna said too sweetly.

My stomach did a flipflop and I turned red with anger. ?But why Anna? Why did you make me such a fool? And why to Liz? I don?t understand.?

?Because, Max-y-pooh, she slept with Kyle,? Anna?s voice turned cold, so cold it made me shiver.

?She took Kyle away from me, and ruined Kyle?s reputation at the same time. She had to pay, Max. Plus, you and I were both so hurt by what happened. It was only right that we got together.?

Then her eyes turned dark, her tone full of bitterness. ?After what Liz did, I couldn?t even look at Kyle the same way, and that made me so mad. He ended up going to Tess anyways.?

I looked at her in horror and anger, yet I felt sorry for her. I understood what she felt like.

?I am getting back at Tess the same way, by going out with you, because I can tell she has feelings for you, whether she hides them or not. So I had to get you to be my boyfriend, it was the ultimate payback.?

I shook my head in disbelief, feeling embarrassed for being used so badly.

Anger weld up inside me and all I could mutter was ?You?re evil,? and walked away from Anna. She looked down sadly, all alone again.

She smiled to herself at the thought that she had successfully gotten her payback, but her smile faded when she realized that she still didn?t end up with Kyle.

Max walked to his Jeep angrily, upset tears stinging his eyes, which he wiped away quickly so no one would see them. I got in his Jeep, put my head on the steering wheel, and yelled out in frustration.

'I just got to talk to Liz,' I thought wearily.

'She?s at the hospital,' a voice said in my mind.

That thought made me almost start crying, but I was too angry at everything and everyone and didn?t have time to cry, so I just started the motor and took off.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

When I woke up, I tried to open my eyes, but they pretty much were sewed shut,swollen from crying all night.

They weren?t only swollen because Anna got a good shot at them, but because of all the crying I?d done last night. I cried nonstop until I fell asleep, here in the hospital.

The room was filled with sunlight pouring in through the window to the outside on my right, and the window with shades slightly open facing into the busy hallways of the hospital on my left.

The door was closed, but had a small viewing window above the nob. I looked down towards the end of the bed where my mother and father were sitting in chairs. My father was mumbling something about suing the school or Anna?s parents.

'Yep, that?s my dad,' I sighed, then sadly everything came back, fresh from last night. I cried quietly while looking out the open window, at the tree branches.

My mother noticed I was awake and crying, and came rushing to my bedside, followed closely by my Dad.

?What?s wrong sweetie? You in any pain?? my Mom asked, concerned.

'Of course I am in pain! My heart has been crushed, like my ribs! But I haven?t been totally honest with anyone lately, so why start now?' All I told her was, ?Yeah a little, but I?m fine, really mom. Just shooken up.?

My mom kissed me on the cheek and asked if I would be okay while they went to breakfast. I said of course, that I?d want to sleep some more because I was really tired.

They left and I tried to sleep. I opened my eyes and something caught my eye outside the window facing the hallway.

'Is that Max?' But the guy turned around and I saw that he was in his mid-twenties, with blue eyes, not those amazing brown that Max had.

He was carrying a gift basket from the gift shop, obviously for the person he was here to visit.

I sighed sadly and closed my eyes. 'Of course it wasn?t Max, Max was with Anna, and Anna is the one who did this to me.'

A tear trickled down my cheek and hit my pillow.

"Oh Max," I said quietly, my voice filled with emotion.

I slowly drifted into a half-sleep, pain still throbbing in my head, my ribs, and.....my heart.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
It ached for me to hear Liz say my name with such pain in her voice.

'What have I done?'

I knew deep down that Liz was getting tortured by Anna, but I did nothing to stop it. How selfish of me.

Guilt swept over my heart as I looked through the window in the door at Liz, still beautiful even with the bruises over and on her eyes, and the split lip.

I squeezed my eyes shut as the verge of tears haunted to spill out of my eyes.

She never did tell me the truth about what happened that night.

I wasn?t sure if she felt as much pain right now as I did when I saw them there in bed, smiling about what had just happened.

Or had it?

'UGH!' I groaned out with deep frustration.

Its almost been a year and it still hurts like it happened yesterday. He thought that deep down she hadn?t slept with Kyle, but if that was true, then she was lying to him.

And lying about something like that is cruel. I must find out the reason why she is lying to me. She has to be lying.

'No she isn?t, Maxwell, its true and she did it to hurt you.'

The voice was back again, arguing once more with me about Liz. My heart told me she had lied, and it must be for a good reason, while the voice told me, if she is lying, she is doing it out of the meanness of her heart.

'She is cruel, Maxwell, don?t let her in again, ever. Hate her, she deserves it.'

'No !!'

I protested in my head, fighting with the voice all the while staring at Liz with painful tears in my eyes. It hurts to look at her but I can?t turn away.

The argument in my head goes on and finally, I yell ?ENOUGH!? out loud. Everyone stares at me with bewilderment.

I blush deeply and mumble an apology for the embarrassing outburst.

Then my eyes saw Maria and the gang walking towards the nurses desk.

I have the urge to hide and run to a nearby hallway, ducking into a Janitor?s closet.

My head and heart are throbbing. 'Now what?'

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
?Liz? It?s me, Maria,? Maria said softly. ?And everyone is here to see you.?

I opened my eyes. They were opening a little wider then before.

?Even Max?? I squeak hopefully.

Maria and Kyle look at each other sadly.

?No sweetie, but don?t expect him to come, he is such a jerk lately. Don?t bother thinking about him anymore, Lizzie.?

?Hey, check out what Alex brought you,? Tess said with a cheerful tone.

Alex, loving the attention he gets with his magic, does a dramatic show and finally pulls out the 6 daisies, which weren't his usual plastic prop ones, out of his hat.

I smiled. ?Thank you Alex! Those are my favorites.?

?I know,? Alex smiled and kissed Liz on her forehead.

?I know your just going to be in the hospital for another few hours, but these can keep you cheerful in this dreadful room till you leave.?

Michael revealed the beautiful vase he had painted and put it on the bedside table.

"Here you go," he said in his casual tone.

?That?s a lovely vase, Michael, thanks.? I couldn?t help but smile, Michael tried to hide his smile that his artwork was appreciated.

?We want you to come over to my place later tonight if you feel alright so we can watch some movies together. If you want, that is,? Kyle added.

I looked down at my hands, thought a moment, then looked up.

?Sure I?d love to.?

?Great!? Maria said. ?Now everyone shoo while I talk to Liz alone.?

Maria ushered them out after they all said their goodbyes, and Maria whispered, ?I heard some others talking about what happened but I wanna hear it from you. What did happen??

I told her the best I could without crying, until, "and when I looked back at Anna in the car....?

Tears dropped down my face, ?...she was hanging onto Max?s arms and
smiling. SMILING, Maria! Like she won. I think she did win. She broke me. Broke my spirits for good.?

I looked out the window sadly. Maria?s heart ached at that last sentence. She tried not to look so sad but it was hard.

?Look Liz, if you let her win, then sure, she wins. You can't let her get to you, thats what she wants. Show her you don't care what she's doing, that you don't care for Max at least. Things will get better without Max, I promise. You gotta move on.?

I hugged Maria tightly and nodded. Tears rolled down my face and I slowly wiped them away.

?Ok Maria. Thanks.? I said my goodbye to her and she left.

Soon after the doctor came. They gave the final tests and said they?d be back for the checking out process in an a couple of hours.

My parents had to leave to open up the restaurant, but my Mom returned with a change of clothes only a half an hour later.

?Here are some clothes for you to change into when you are ready to leave in an hour or so, k honey??

?Thanks Mom,? I replied quietly. She looked at me with sorrow in her eyes.

?I wish you?d cheer up sweetheart,? Then she left and I sighed.

I reached over and picked up the shirt, which I haven?t worn in a long time. 'Never send your mom to pick out your clothes,' I thought to myself.

Then when it unfolded in my lap, a piece of film flittered to the ground. I picked it up and my eyebrows lowered in sadness. It was the 5 pictures me and Max took at a photo booth at a carnival last Fall.

A tear found its way out of my eye. I chuckled sadly when I saw the funny faces we made. The last picture made me start to ball all over again.

It was the one where Max and I were looking into each others eyes, smiling happily. 'I miss those great times with him,' I thought to myself.

'But now I?m all alone. I?ll never have Max, and Anna will. She did win, and I lost...'

I sniffed miserably and said out loud, ? I lost the love of my life.?

I sank back into my depressive mood and closed my eyes, drifting to a place where I was alone and chilled to the bone. I was strapped to a seat, and a screen was pulled down in front of me by someone, I couldn?t tell who.

Then a movie began playing. It was Max and Anna kissing passionately.

I tried to scream out with sorrow, but no sound came out. I tried to shut my eyes but I couldn?t.

Anna and Max were in a chapel, getting married, then it was their honeymoon.

'No make it stop!' I screamed in my head.

'If life was going to be like this, with me alone and having to watch them be happy, then, then.... I don?t wanna live.'

This thought only made me feel worse. I still wonder to this day why I couldn?t have just stayed happy with Max, since Tess ended up staying anyways, being with Kyle, not Max.

'Why did Anna get Max? Anna ruined everything. Anna ruined my life.'

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
I saw a slip of film drop from Liz?s hand when she fell into another fitful slumber. 'Oh Liz,' I thought.

I had been waiting over three hours for everyone to leave so I could talk to Liz. I needed to find out the truth about that night.

Soon after her Mom walked over to the elevator for the second time in the past hour, I returned to my spot at Liz?s door window.

'What about everything she has done to you, Maxwell?' A voice lectured him harshly.

'Don?t feel guilty for letting Anna hurt her. It almost makes you and her even.'

'No!' Another voice shouted at his brain. 'You love her! She has GOT to have a good reason for these lies Just get the truth!'

'The truth is Maxwell, is that she hurt you. On purpose. She?s cruel and manipulative. And if you let her in again she?ll hurt you worse. It might kill you to get hurt again like that.'

'But you?ll die without her!' The other voice still argued.
I muttered ?Shut up,? to my self- conscious.

This was really driving me crazy.

I opened her hospital room door slowly and walked toward her.

'If you get to close she?ll wake up and then you?ll fall for her. You?ll fall for her trap again. Then its all over.'

I stopped three steps from her bedside. I grabbed my face in misery and felt my face grow hot with frustration. Tears threatened to fall once again.

A wave of sorrow made my knees go weak, and I fell to the ground so close to her bed I gasped. I haven?t been this close to her in so long.

I wanted to reach out and touch her soft hair once again, but I stopped myself.

I saw the film strip that had fallen earlier from Liz?s hand on the floor next to his knee.

I picked them up and stared at them. 'I can?t believe Liz still had these. '

I started to cry softly, for the first time not stopping the tears from coming. I touched each photo slowly, remembering back to those days of happiness with Liz.

My head was numb with emotions with the last picture. It showed everything their relationship was. Loving. Perfect.

'I miss Liz so much,' I thought, feeling more and more depressed as the time passed.

I felt full of anger, hurt, sadness, and loneliness, wanting to drown in my own tears.

I slid my back against the wall next to her bed and pulled my knees up to my face. I wept loudly into them, not caring who heard me anymore.
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I was suddenly freed of my chair in from of the horrible picture show by a loud sobbing. I closed my eyes, rubbing them roughly.

When I opened them again, I saw I was back in my hospital room. I looked to my left where I heard the crying, but I didn?t see anything.

I heard someone moan my name sadly with their sobs. Then I looked down and saw...

~gasp~ ?Max?? I asked, surprised.

Max looked up quickly and our eyes met. We could see each other?s pain, and felt it too. When I went out to touch Max?s shoulder with my hand, he pulled away sharply.

With angry tears, he said ?Why Liz? Why won?t you tell me the truth??

He stood up and paced back and forth. All I could do is look at him sadly. He got frustrated that I hadn?t said anything yet.

?I need to know Liz! It?s driving me crazy! Please, tell me about that night...?
He drew in his breath painfully, trying his best to keep in control, but he was losing it.

I said quietly, ?I might as well tell you, it feels like the end of the world for me anyways...?

Max looked at me confused. ?I don?t know what that MEANS, Liz! Please just tell me you didn?t sleep with Kyle so I can get over it once and for all.?

He added slowly,?Get over you once and for all....?

I tried to keep myself from crying after I heard that.

I whispered quietly, ?It?s not fair Anna gets to be with you when I gave you up so you?d be with Tess.?

Max?s eyebrows lifted, looking more confused then ever. ?What??

?Ok, I gotta tell you something, but you gotta believe that this is the truth,? I say pleadingly, yearning more then ever for him to know so the pain would stop in my heart.

?This is the truth that I had to keep from you all this time...?

I paused to draw in my breath. ?Last January, you - well not YOU, but a future version of you visited my room..... The night you serenaded me. He told me about what happens to us in the future...... He says...?

I try to avoid looking at Max but I can?t seem to break my eyes away.

?We, well we got married. But this marriage was the reason Michael and Isabel die, and your enemies cause the end of the world.?

I see how Max reacts to this news, and with an emotional plea, I add,

?I know this sounds unbelievable Max, but its true, and that day was the worst day of my life. It was the day I had to try to set you up with my enemy Tess, but it didn?t work. Then, even though it tore my heart apart, I tried telling you I wouldn?t die for you, which is the biggest lie I ever told.?

I began to cry then. Max just sat there with tears falling out of his eyes, staring at the floor.

?Then I had to make you believe I had slept with Kyle. The truth Max, is I didn?t Max. I didn?t.?

I said that last sentence with all the emotion I had and broke down crying, burying my face into the pillow.

Max was crying, too. I heard his sad cries, but then they stopped a few seconds later. He gently touched my shoulder and I sat back up, facing him. His touch made me tingle with the urge to hug him and never let him stop touching me ever again.

There was relief in his eyes, and pent up longing waiting to escape. ?So you didn?t sleep with Kyle...?

He had to say that revelation out loud to help it sink in. Then I couldn?t hold back any longer.

I bent towards him quickly and kissed him with pent up passion pushing our lips together roughly.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
I hungrily kissed Liz back after I heard this new revelation of what really happened. But it still didn?t prepare me for the information the flood of flashes gave me when I started kissing Liz.

*FLASH*

An older version of me predicting what I would do during the serenade and Liz listening to the news he brought.

*FLASH*

Future me explaining our wedding to Liz in Whitaker?s office, and Liz asking him not to make her do this.

*FLASH*

The pain Liz felt after telling me she wouldn?t die for me.

*FLASH*

The sorrow she felt after she saw my face as I caught her in bed with Kyle.

*FLASH*

Her dancing with the future Me on her roof, and the despair she felt when he faded away.

*FLASH*

The anger and sadness she felt when she saw Anna and I together at the 4th of July party and in school hallways the past few months.

*end of FLASHS*

I pulled away and cried out in pain as the emotions Liz went through in the past year overwhelmed me with guilt.

'I caused all this pain for her.'

I put my head in my hands and cried.

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She was still out of breath from the kiss, relief in her eyes but the burden from the past year heard in her sobs.

She touched my shoulder and tried to console me.

?I couldn?t tell you, I wanted to so bad Max, but I was afraid a new future You would come back and ask me to do that all over again, but I didn?t want to. It?d just kill me Max,? she sobbed.

?It hurt so bad the first time, how could I do it again??

Her shoulders shuddered with tears, and I hugged her as we cried into each others shoulders.

A few minutes later when we had calmed down, I looked at Liz?s tear-streaked face.

?Your so brave, Liz. For doing that... thank you so much.? I choked back another tear. ?Now I know the truth.?

She had a smile flicker on her face and she kissed me softly once again, then buried her face in my neck and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

I embraced her, buzzing from her touch that I had missed for so very long.

?I'm so sorry Liz. I love you so much.?

She pulled back to look me in the eyes, their amber grace shining with tears.

?I love you too,? she whispered.

I could hear her joy and love in her voice and I couldn?t let her go. I wiped away her now happy tears, and rested my head on her shoulder.

Right then her doctor walked in, stopping suddenly with embarrassment. ?I didn?t mean to interrupt.? he said.

I pulled away from Liz and sat up, wiping my wet face with my sleeve and standing up, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the Doctor seeing me crying.

Liz?s parents walked in a moment later and the Doctor continued to speak.

?Well Liz it looks like you just have some bruised ribs but that?s about it. Your release forms are done and you can go home now."

Liz looked down just then and realized she still hadn?t changed into her clothes. She covered up her hospital gown with the blanket, embarrassed.

She asked meekly, ?Can I, um, have another minute alone to dress??

We all kinda chuckled and her Mom said, ?Of course, dear. Come on out everybody. That means you too, Max,? she said with a smile.

I blushed and told Liz I?d wait outside for her. My heart was beating happily, and I smiled as I followed her Father out the door.

Finally, me and Liz were back together, and I knew the truth.

And the voices had stopped.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
I laughed softly as Alex struggled with the VCR.

?Your VCR is a pain, Kyle,? Alex said with a huff when the tape wouldn?t start.

After a few more minutes, Alex finally stood up quickly and put his hands up in the air.

?Yes! I did it! Whose the man??

Alex did a funny pump move with his hands, bring them out in a circle and back in again, over and over.

Kyle laughed at Alex. ?You obviously aren?t, now sit your butt down so we can watch the movie already."

I was sitting snuggled with Max on Kyle?s couch. The others were scattered around his livingroom later that night to watch my favorite movie, ?City of Angels?.

Even though it had a sad ending, she was sure they?d see each other again some day.

True love always found a way to be together. After all, that?s what happened for me, and the love of my life.

Max.

                                            The End