(Ch 13) Epilogue:

It was all a dream for seventeen-year-old Maxine Gibson, who woke up in the morning in the school's computer lab. "This is what I get for pulling an all nighter." She got off the chair, stretched her limbs, grabbed her books, and made her way out the door. She looked at her watch, which read 7:45AM. Class started at eight so she had some time to think about her dream.

She sat outside and let the morning breeze relax her. She watched her peers' converse and a sense of loneliness washed over hee. 'Man what a dream that was.' She yawned. 'I am so not ready for today, but I'll get through it. I always do.' Before she could close her eyes and drift off again, she heard a voice calling her name.

"Max."

"Hey Howard. What's going on?"

"Well I'm having another party tonight."

"Really? After all that happened the last time you threw a party?"

"My parents are giving me another chance."

"Why?"

"Yeah know I don't but you're coming right?"

"Of course Howard I won't miss it."

"It's at 8 so don't be late."

At her locker she took out the books she needed for class but one of them dropped to the ground and when she went to pick it up, she hit her head on her locker door. She hissed, "slag it!" she said as she closed her locker, leaning against it and almost closed her eyes until she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

"You ok Max."

She opened her eyes to see a pair of worried blue eyes staring back at her. "I pulled another all nighter I feel crappy McGinnis."

He smiled. "Well I guess today we have a lot in common."

"Yeah."

"Are you sure you're ok Max?"

"Just weird dreams nothing you'd be interested in."

"Try me."

The bell rang interrupting their conversation. "Sorry Terry the bell has spoken."

By the end of the day Max is out of school as she sat in her car in the parking lot. 'There has to be something more. I know I've never relied on a guy to be everything to me, but love couldn't hurt a second time, right?' Even her thoughts weren't convincing her.

She made her way inside her apartment. She didn't even know how she managed to drive herself home. She dropped her book bag to the floor and surrendered to her bed. By the time she woke up it was dark outside. She had homework to do, which she finished in no time.

Suddenly a knock came to her door. "Whoa, I'm getting a major sense of déjà vu." She opened the door to see Terry on the other side. 'Ok now I'm seriously freaking out.' She let him in, closing the door. "So, what brings you here and using the front door?"

He smiled. "Well I'd thought I try it for once. See what it's like."

"And your purpose of coming over?"

"I wanted to spend time with you."

'Ok girl don't take that too seriously because he probably means as a friend.' She smiled. "Sounds good to me so you want to eat junk food and watch really bad movies?"

"You know me too well Max."

The lights were off as they got comfy on the couch with an assortment of bad food lied out on her coffee table. Max started the movie, and they chowed down on food. When all the food was gone, they got into more relaxed positions. They laughed and enjoyed each other's company until hours later; they were both passed out asleep on the couch with bad movies still playing on TV.

The phone rung suddenly, waking up the two. Max trudged her way over and picked it up. "Hello. Terry it's for you." She handed the phone over.

"Hello. I was thinking of crashing at Max's since it's the weekend tomorrow. I'll see you Monday mom."

'Girl just because he's staying the whole weekend doesn't mean anything. Besides he'll probably have crime to fight so he won't be here that often.'

"Hey Max you don't mind if I use your shower do you? I need something to wake me up just incase I have to take off.

"Sure go ahead. I believe the clothes you put in my closet are still there." She watched as he disappeared from her sight. 'Damn I think I have to tell him. It's just too much weight on my shoulders not to mention the fact it's keeping me up all night."

By the time Terry came out, Max was on her laptop checking her emails and assignments for the next month. 'It never hurts to be aware of what's coming up next.' She closed the laptop as soon as her eyes couldn't take the screen anymore. She put it down and to see Terry smiling at her. "What?"

"You got to give it rest Max. You've worked too hard lately."

"You've noticed that huh?"

"Yes. You're a lot more tired than you used to be."

"You know there's a reason for it that you should probably know about."

"Well I don't want my partner slacking off on the job." She aimed to punch him in the shoulder, but he blocked with his own hand. "But seriously Max what's going on?"

His concern touched her. 'It's now or never Max just tell him how you feel. The worst that happen is that you can end up alone again. I really don't want that.' She became nervous. "I'm in love with you."

"That's the reason you've been sleep deprived lately."

"Yeah, pretty silly isn't it?"

"Yeah it is pretty silly because you could have told me before you got too tired to walk."

"And what would you have said when I told you I love you?"

"I would have said I love you to Max."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid I was going to lose you. Pretty stupid now, huh?"

"No I felt the same way when I thought you would reject me."

They leaned in to each other, holding each other close as they kissed throughout the night. Not knowing what the future would bring for them but knowing they would always have each other.

(The End).