Summary: The grass is greener on the other side..
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and original characters.

"Human"
Part 4

"Isabel?" Max said and walked towards her. "Isabel, we need to talk."

She stared at him blankly. "About what?"

"I can't say here. Come with me." Isabel's friends listened to the conversation intently.

Isabel looked at him funny. "Look Max, can we talk about whatever this is later?" she said rather dismissively and took off with her friends.

"What was that all about?" he heard one of them ask her.

"How should I know? What could me and Max Evans possibly have to talk about?" she said as if the very idea was the craziest thing in the world.

Max continued on his way to his fourth period class a little more wounded.

During History, Max kept replaying what happened in his head. Isabel acted so strange, like she didn't know him. Well, she doesn't, Max reasoned. And then there was that whole situation with Liz. They were back together. That was what he wanted but she was acting differently too. It was unsettling to him. He hoped lunch would be better.

"Mr. Evans," the film history teacher, Mr. Popolino called on his suddenly, "What Miss Walker mentioned earlier brings to us back to the theme of ‘careful what you wish for'. What are your thoughts on this synopsis relating to our last in class source, ‘Wishful Things'?"

Max looked up in surprise. His ears reddened as he noticed all eyes were on him. He paused to recall the movie "Wishful Things".

"Um, the townspeople get the things that they always wanted but it turns into a nightmare," he said then added, "It's what they wanted, but not really because of what they had to give up. Their humanity and their values. The very things that essentially make them who they are."

The bell rang.

"Close," Mr. Popolino commented. "We'll pick up on this tomorrow," he yelled as the class filtered through the exit.

Max rose from his seat uneasily.

Lunchtime had arrived but Max was looking forward to it as much as he would a visit to the dentist. But he hoped that he would find more answers. He turned left at the end of the corridor and nearly slammed into someone. When he looked up he saw it was Michael.

"Michael."

"Hey, watch where you're going," Michael said coldly and stalked off before Max had the chance to say anything else.

He continued to the lunchroom. He looked around the Quad for Liz. He spotted Maria and Isabel in the corner. Kyle just sat down with his tray and joined them. He stopped to observe Kyle for a moment, who apparently took his place in some sorts. Kyle appeared to be more reserved was without his usual letterman jacket.

"Hey, that's my bookbag!" Max said quietly. Kyle had a similar bookbag to his. Or what used to be his.

"Max," he suddenly heard. It was a familiar voice.

"Liz?" he smiled. He turned to face to her. "We have to talk," she stated in a serious tone.

"Okay," he said.
She led him outside.

"It's a beautiful day," he commented. He looked over at her and saw that she didn't return his enthusiasm.

"We have to talk," she started. They stopped at a Willow tree. "There's no easy way to say this, so um, I'll just say it straight."

Max was quiet.

"This isn't working. I don't think we should see each other anymore."

"What?" he managed to spit out. He was stunned.

"Max, you had to have seen this coming. We've just been trying too hard. This is our second around and if there was anything between us, we wouldn't have to," she told him.

"Liz, I love you," he cried.

"Max…" she looked away. "Don't make this harder than it has to."

She stood up and kissed his cheek. He searched her doe eyes for any emotion, any of the feelings that he possessed for her returned. He found none. She turned around and walked away. Away from him. Away for anything that they had.

Max sat there shocked. He felt his heart breaking.

"So this is what it feels like to be human?" he whispered to no one in particular.

To Be Continued...