It was December twenty-third.

Christmas was so close that you'd think the atmosphere would be better, but Maxine woke up with an uneasy feeling. She felt incomplete. She felt like something was wrong. Worst of all, for the first time in her life, she felt pain in her heart.

She tried to shake the feeling away but failed. So she just ignored it as she took a shower and got dressed.

She went downstairs and at last met James’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fuller. They looked incredibly nice and well-mannered. She didn't have the chance to meet them last night because she went to bed before having the chance to eat.

She was tired last night. Some of the ache that she was trying very hard to ignore seemed to be coming back to her. She aggressively shook her head as though to shake off the bad memory of last night.

James and his parents looked weirdly at Maxine, but they didn't say a word.

They led her to the dining room, which had a long rectangular table good for twelve people. However, there were only nine sets of plates.

There were lots of delicious foods settled on the table. Bacons, eggs, hotdogs, pancakes, bread, jam and butter, sausages, and pasta.

Maxine could feel her mouth water from the smell.

“You must be the famous Maxine, am I correct?” asked Mike Samuels lightly.

He arrived last night when all were already asleep. He was tall, in his mid-thirties, and he looked exactly like Todd, only older.

“Yes, Mr. Samuels,” replied Maxine quietly

“I’m glad to finally meet you in person,” said Mike, sitting beside Janice. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I hope they aren't bad,” she said, smiling weakly.

“Oh, they're misleading,” he said.

She gulped.

“You're more beautiful than Janice let on,” he chuckled.

“Oh, I'm not,” Maxine quickly replied. “I'm not as beautiful as . . .” She stopped herself before she could finish the sentence.

It was true, though. Maggie was way more beautiful than her.

“She's very modest, isn't she, darling?” laughed Janice.

Everyone took their seats and settled themselves to eat.

Mike was likable. He kept asking Todd and Maxine questions about school and kept telling James to study at Sky. Apparently, Mike and Janice, along with Natalie and Mrs. Fuller, went together at Sky International Academy.

“What, why didn’t you tell me this before?” demanded James to his Mom.

“You never asked,” said Mrs. Fuller simply.

“That’s because you never mentioned it,” pouted James, looking as though he have never been told of something really important.

“I remember the days when I was studying at Sky as if it was yesterday,” said Mike thoughtfully. And then he turned to Todd. “Did you know that your mother and I wouldn’t have been together if it wasn’t for Headmaster Sky?”

“What do you mean?” queried Todd, slightly confused.

Everyone on the table looked interested as they waited for Mike to continue his story.

“Well, you remember peer pressure back in the day,” said Mike to Janice, Natalie, and to Mr. and Mrs. Fuller. “Academic students never befriended the athletic players or any of our sort. I was an Athlete while Janice was a nerd —“

“I was not a nerd,” said Janice defensively.

“You were,” the other adults replied at the same time.

Todd, Maxine, James, and Mr. Fuller laughed.

“So there was so much heat between the two sets of cliques that Headmaster Sky wanted to find a way to put a stop to it. He didn’t want that kind of rivalry at Sky,” said Mike.

“But that kind of cliques still don’t mix together, right?” said James. “I mean, every other school still has the heat between the two groups.”

“Not in Sky,” said Maxine quietly.

“Right you are, Maxine,” said Mike. “Headmaster Sky didn’t want Sky International Academy to just be any other school. He wanted it to be the school where any student can be what they want to be. He wanted Sky’s students to be free and united, as it is today.”

“And how did it turn out to be like that?” asked Todd.

“That is where your mother and I come in,” said Mike, his eyes twinkling. “I was the play-maker of our Basketball team. While your Mom was the most nerdy girl I’ve ever seen. She was the smartest, while I was the coolest. We were in our senior year and we didn’t get along. I disliked her friends while she hated mine.

“One day, Headmaster Sky summoned us to his office and talked to us. He asked us a favor — a huge favor, if you ask me. He asked us to pretend that we were dating. That was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard at the time. Of course, we didn’t agree. For us, dating each other would mean sentencing ourselves for death. But Headmaster Sky told us that we would never graduate if we didn’t agree. He was just joking — it was obvious. But Janice was so convinced that she agreed with the thought that she will not graduate from high school.

“So the next day, we announced it to our friends. My friends went crazy. They thought I was only joking. After all, Janice Hughes was my most hated girl in school. But when I said I was serious about it, they believed me. We acted like we always did when we were together; the only difference was that we were always together.

“Days passed, then weeks, and then months. As time passed, we were getting used to being together. And eventually, we didn’t notice that we were starting like each other’s company. Our friends fully accepted each other. Our differences became not such a big deal anymore.

“All of a sudden, I started thinking about her everywhere. I couldn’t wait to see her at school, at break time, and I felt like I had to see her every day. So when Prom night came, I asked my sister and Natalie to arrange something at school for a surprise announcement. When I arrived to pick up Janice, I felt nervous and I didn’t even know why. And when I saw her, that was when it hit me: I love her. It’s as simple as that.

“When we arrived at the venue, I took her to the dance floor. While we were dancing, that was when I told her how I felt about her. She looked into my eyes and believed me. When she said she felt the same way, it was like, I was the most fortunate guy in the world. And since then, I heard that there was no gap or wall separating the two groups. Headmaster Sky thanked us, and we thanked him,” finished Mike.

Maxine’s mouth was slightly open. Todd was staring at his Dad. James was grinning. And the rest simply fell silent to recall the romantic moment.

“Well, that was lovely,” said Mrs. Fuller, too loudly that made every one almost jump. “Oh, Frank and I are sailing for two days. Do you want to come, Mike, Janice, and Natalie?”

“Sure,” agreed Mike and Janice.

“I’d love to, but . . .” Natalie trailed off as she looked pointedly at Alex.

Maxine noticed it.

“I'll take care of him, Mom,” she said, smiling reassuringly. “You go and have fun.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back on Christmas morning,” said Mrs. Fuller.

“Oh,” said Natalie, biting her lip. “I guess it's all right.”

Mrs. Fuller and Janice beamed at her.

“We’d better start packing,” said Mr. Fuller.

They went upstairs to pack, leaving the kids at the dining table.

“Todd, can we play Guitar Hero?” asked Alex.

“Sorry, I can’t,” replied Todd. “I have to meet someone today. Maybe next time.”

“Are you meeting that girl from yesterday?” inquired Alex sadly.

“Yeah.”

“Really?” James blurted out in amazement.

“Is there something wrong with that?” Todd asked James, seeing his expression.

“Nothing,” James said quickly, wide-eyed. “C’mon, Alex. Let’s play Guitar Hero,” he told Alex, jerking his head toward the living room.

“Okay,” beamed Alex.

Maxine and Todd were left alone. She glanced at Todd, and instantly her heart made another crack. She feared the thought of Todd with Maggie. But she knew that she wasn't in the right position to comment or state her opinion.

But deep inside, she wanted to tell Todd not to meet Maggie. She wanted to tell him that she was there. She wanted him to stay.

“I’ve got to go,” declared Todd, standing up to leave. “Later,” he added.

“Yeah, have fun. You know what they say, ‘Love is lovelier the second time around,’” she said brightly, forcing herself to smile.

Todd stopped walking and looked at Maxine over his shoulder. He was examining her expression.

“Maybe you and Maggie are meant for each other, after all,” she added cheerfully.

We’re just hanging out, thought Todd. Don’t tell me, you’re jealous? But how can that be? You’re smiling like it doesn’t matter.

What are you thinking, Maxine Ferguson?

Todd shrugged. “Maybe. Who knows? We’ll just have to wait and see.”

With that, he left.

Maxine sat there for a few seconds.

When she finally found herself, she went to the living room to watch Alex and James, who were intently playing Guitar Hero. She sat on the armchair beside the fireplace.

She was staring into space, thinking of how it will all turn out. They are perfect for each other. It’s only reasonable for them to be together, she thought.

“I would give anything just to know what you’re thinking right at this moment.”

Maxine turned her head to see who said that.

It was James.

He was looking intently at her, much like the first time they met.

“I’m not thinking anything,” she lied.

He chuckled. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re not a good liar?” he said.

“Did anyone ever tell you to stop analyzing other people’s personality?”

“Yep,” he nodded, grinning. “I get that a lot.” He sat on the carpet in front of her by the fireplace.

She looked around and saw Alex very absorbed by his game. She absentmindedly smiled at her brother.

“It’s just that,” continued James, making Maxine turn her eyes on him, “other people’s lives are more interesting than my own.”

She looked at him as he stared at the charcoals in the fireplace.

“That’s not true,” disagreed Maxine. “Every person’s life is just as unique and different from one another, including your own.”

She must've hit a sore spot because his expression saddened and he looked down. In some way, James reminded her of Todd. James' hair was longer, though. But his expression . . . It was full of anguish. It was the face of a broken heart.

He was reflecting what Maxine was feeling in her heart.

“She loves Todd,” he murmured in the quietest voice. “And I . . . love her.”

Maxine slightly frowned in confusion, and then she understood who they were talking about.

“Oh, Maggie.” It wasn't a question.

James merely nodded.

“Does she know how you feel?”

He shook his head.

“Why not?” said Maxine.

He chuckled humorlessly. “We haven’t talked properly since the incident. She tried to talk to me. But I couldn’t face her with the guilt squirming inside me. I’m the reason why she’s suffering . . . why she's alone.” He paused and sighed. “We greet one another when we see each other but . . . that’s it.”

“Someone once told me, ‘Knowing is better than wondering.’ There’s a reason why Maggie kissed you, James.”

His eyes looked into Maxine's. “I know. But why do I have to know, when she’s already happy with someone else?” he inquired, and then he looked down again. “For me, wondering is better. Because if I knew the reason why she kissed me that night, I might not let her go. And she might not be as happy as she is now that Todd’s here again.”

Maxine was crushed and touched at the same time. She was touched, because James was really sweet. She was crushed, because she was reminded again of the huge probability that Todd and Maggie were soon going to be together again.

“That’s really something,” she said quietly.

That afternoon, the adults left for the sail. Natalie was still hesitant on leaving Alex but James and Maxine assured her that Alex would be just fine.

A few minutes after the adults left, Todd came back.

He looked unusually happy while walking upstairs to his room.

James and Maxine exchanged looks. James was about to say something, but Maxine put a hand on his arm, stopping him. When he look at her quizzically, she just shook her head.

"It's none of our business," she whispered to him, her voice slightly cracking.

It was true, though. It was none of their business. No matter how much she was dying to know what happened, she kept herself from asking.

"Aren't you curious?" asked James.

Maxine shurgged. She didn't trust herself to speak, because she might speak out the truth.

Finally, James sighed and went back to playing with Alex.

Maxine sighed, as well.

This is going to be a long vacation.

_________________________________________

James isn't that bad after all, eh? He's just a lost little boy waiting for her princess... Okay, that sounds incredibly sappy. Hahaha! So technically, it's still Friday. That means, I didn't break my promise. Bwahahaha!

Note: Oh, next chapter's going to be exciting. You'll get to see Maxine's spying skills. LOL.

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