Deceptive Appearences (MATURE/ADULT) *Kyle, Tess OPEN*

[isabelle]

*MAX*

Biting my lip because I really hate to be doing this - to be violating her privacy, I reach for the buckle, telling myself that I have to. Whatever's in this box, whatever's in this book, is a secret that's wedging itself between us. I don't want that. I have to know what it is.

I start to push the leather up through the buckle, but it won't slide. I tug from the other side and nothing moves.

"Get on with it, Maxwell," Michael grumbles.

"I'm trying!" I whisper at him. I pull my hand back and hold it over the latch. I try to use my powers to make the strap move. My breathing becomes strained, but I keep on trying. I haven't had to work this hard to move something since I was nine. This is just a leather strap! Exhaling sharply, I lower my hand. My eyes widening with surprise.

Michael rolls his eyes, shoving me aside. "I'll do it," he says impatiently. He reaches for the box, grabbing the leather. In a moment, he too, is grunting as he can't get it to move. Still blocking me from the box, he also tries to use his powers.

"I tried that," I tell him, calmly. Usually his teleknetic abilities aren't as controlled as mine, but sometimes, they are stronger. Especially if he's very frustrated. I really don't want him to damage the box. I don't want anyone to know we were here.

Michael ignores me, grunting and scowling as he tries to open the strap. I cross my arms over my chest, waiting. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't expect him to succeed.

"Here, let me try something," I tell him, elbowing him aside to move between him and the box.

"What the hell's up with that box?" He asks, accusingly. Like I did something to it. I ignore him, putting my hand over the strap at the lip of the lid.

"What do you think you're doing now?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Just going to split the leather," I tell him. "I can repair it again after. They'll never know." I ignore him then, focusing on the molecules of the leather so I can separate them. Or at least, that's what I try to do. Every time I get close, my mind seems to slide away. I can't seem to touch the molecules.

"Well?" Michael asks with a smirk.

"I don't know!" I tell him.

Michael grabs the box. He starts wrestling with the strap again, pushing and pulling with a great show of grunting and groaning. I look around quickly, praying that Mrs. Parker isn't close enough to hear him. Then Michael turns it around and starts pulling on the lid. "Give me a hand here," he demands.

I don't imagine how that's going to help with the strap still in place, but I put my hands along side his and we pull together. My breathing becomes tight and I can actually feel a sheen of sweat starting across my forehead, but there's no motion on the lid or the strap.

"A knife," he suggests.

I hardly think we'll find a knife here, but I look around. There's a flimsy letter opener made of hard plastic. I pick it up and use my powers to change the plastic to steel, sharpening the edge as I go. "Here," I tell him. I bend over the box and apply the knife to the leather strap.

The strap still doesn't cut. The knife-edge dulls almost as soon as I start moving it against the leather. I sharpen it again with my powers, but the same thing happens when I try again. Frowning, I try to pry the knife into the edge between the lid and the box, but I can't seem to make any progress there, either.

"Give that to me!" Michael growls, grabbing the knife. He tries the same thing, with no better results. "What the hell is this?" He asks.

I shake my head. "I have no idea," I tell him, but I'm starting to be really concerned. In the flashes, she and Serena didn't seem to have any trouble opening it. There must be some trick - but how tricky could a leather strap be? What would possibly be able to resist our powers? Is it some alien device? Wouldn't she have told me if she were an alien, too? Wouldn't I know it when I'm connected to her in healing or in flashes?

Noticing the time, I realize we've already been here too long. "Gotta get back to school," I tell Michael

"Skip a class or two, Maxwell. Live a little," he suggests.

I shake my head. My next class is Physics with Liz. I don't want to miss it. Especially as I'm hoping to talk to Ms. Brennan after, although I'm still not sure how I'm going to ask. "Not this time, Michael. You get the door."

I take the box and put it up on the shelf where it was, closing the closet door when I'm done. Michael moves to the door and unseals it. Nodding towards the window, I climb out onto the terrace and down the fire-escape. Michael follows right behind me.

[M]

~* AISLING*~

I just don’t want to have to lie to him anymore…I want to know that this secret isn’t going to come between us later…if he’s going to break up with me because of it, don’t you see that it would be so much harder for me the longer we’ve been together?”

'Sweetie, although thats a part of it, thats not why I ask. I don't ask because I think he would betray you either. I ask because you have to want him to know for its own sake, not for how he reacts, or the difference it makes for your life, or your relationship. You have to want him to know because it's impossible for him not to know. Because he knows everything else there is to know, and because he can't see as much of you as you want and need him to. Because you love him, and it might make a difference to his life, not yours . Do you understand what I mean? What I'm trying to get at?'

[isabelle]

Sorry I've been so long. I wasn't sure if Michael or Liz wouldn't want to post first.
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*Max*

I get in the jeep and start it up as Michael vaults into the passenger seat. "What the hell was that all about, Maxwell?" he asks.

"I don't know...." I tell him. I don't even know where to start with an explaination and I hope he doesn't ask.

"What was that box? Why were you trying to get in and why didn't our powers work on it?" Michael demands.

I frown. I knew it was too much to hope for. "I dont know, Michael. I ... well, I saw it in a flash, in one of Liz's memories. I wanted to find out what it was."

[KatnotKath]

OOC: not sure if this works, but I hope it does...

~Liz~

If only Ainsling knew…she’s saying this to try and convince me I can’t tell him I know, but the situation she’s just described is exactly the same point Max and I are at… After everything we’ve been through, I can’t keep this secret from him any longer… Max saved my life that day in the Crashdown…and risked his own in doing so… His life was changed forever, he risked exposing himself to save me, and all that happened because of the fact I was exposed in the original incident. Being with me has already changed his life… Being round me is going to bring danger with it…I know it, and I know that I should try and push him away, but I can’t… I want Max to know everything about me…I want him to know my secrets as I know his… Keeping this secret from him is putting him in even more danger than he’s already in because of his own secret… And virtually all the danger is there because of me… Max should know what he’s getting into… I sigh and nod, conscious that I’m going to struggle to convince Ainsling though. “I know what you’re trying to get at, and I know you’re not going to believe me, but I think we’re at that point… I don’t just want to tell him to know he’s not going to walk away…I want to tell him so that I know that when he looks at me, he’s not looking at a lie… I want to tell him so that he knows what he’s getting into…” I trail off, hearing the bell for the end of lunch. Making one final comment, before heading to my seat, I look at her. “I love Max…” I tell her again softly. As students begin to enter the room, I quickly remove the spell I’d cast and settle down to get out my books.

[isabelle]

*MAX*

"Please, Michael," I say as we pull into the school parking lot. "Don't tell Liz we were in there. Don't tell anyone."

"What? Do I look stupid?" He glares at me, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Sorry," I murmur. "I just don't get it. That box is strange." I get out of the jeep and wait as Michael vaults over the door. "Don't mention it to Isabel, either."

"Why not?" Michael demands.

"Just - I don't want her to panic. I'm gonna check it out first and then I'll let you both know, okay?" I shake my head. If I had any idea it would be so strange, I would never have allowed Michael to come along.

A couple minutes later, I separate from Michael who is on his way to art class, and I step into Physics. I'm surprised to see that Liz is there already.

"Hey Liz," I say, taking my seat besides her. "Sorry I missed you at lunch."

[M]

~*AISLING*~
As Liz walks away from me, obviously disappointed, I want to follow and continue speaking about her telling Max, but other students have started filing into the room and I have to be the 'teacher' again.

After I write the lesson plan on the blackboard I turn around just in time to see Max sliding into his seat beside Liz.

Taking a deep breath and saying a small prayer that I'm doing the right thing I walk over to where the two are talking quietly.

'Liz, I don't believe we have finished our discussion. Could you come see me after school today? Max I would appreciate it if you joined us. I think all three of us need to talk'

[isabelle]

*MAX*

I look up, trying to hide my surprise as Ms. Brennan suggests that she meet with both me and Liz after school. I'd been planning to try to talk to her after this class, but somehow I think this would be a bad time to mention that - not with Liz right here.

Instead, I let my eyes widen glancing at Liz and back at Ms. Brennan trying to guess what the subtext of their conversation is, but I really have no clue. They'd been having a discussion and they want me involved? Could it possibly have something to do with those flashes and that obstinate box?

Since this seems to have started with the two of them, I stay quiet, waiting for Liz's response, first.

[KatnotKath]

OOC: Hope this this is ok for you guys

~Liz~

“Hey Liz…Sorry I missed you at lunch…”

I look up, surprised as I didn’t hear him come up. “Oh hi Max…yeah, I went to the library to do some work…” I tell him quickly, aware that it’s a lame excuse but it’s better than nothing I hope. He slips into his seat next to me and I try to smile. Inside though, I’m being torn apart…I want to tell Max the truth so much, and yet if I do, I’m not just going to be exposing myself… I look over at Ainsling and then back down at my books. Her arguments are sound…they tell me all the reasons I shouldn’t tell Max, but I’m not too sure that matters anymore… I said I was going to talk to her today…that I was going to talk to Serena, yet in truth, I’m not sure that what they say will affect what I do… This has gone on too long already…Max needs to know the truth… I look across at him, a small smile fixed on my face despite my unease. “Did I miss anything interesting…?” I ask him quietly, referring to lunch.

“Liz, I don’t believe we have finished our discussion. Could you come to see me after school today? Max I would appreciate it if you joined us. I think all three of us need to talk…”

Ok, I really wish she wouldn’t do that sneaking up thing… But wait…she’s just asked Max to join us…what’s she up to…? After the way our conversation this lunch time ended I would never have dreamt of her doing anything like this… There’s only one reason I can think of for her asking to see Max as well but I hardly dare to hope that I’m right. Looking at Ainsling, I try to guess what she’s thinking, but it’s no good…I guess I’ll just have to wait and hope… I nod. “Of course Ms Brennan…”

[isabelle]

*MAX*

After Liz accepts, I nod as well. "Yeah. I'll come." I told them. "What's it about?" I ask. It's clearly not about homework or class or anything. Those are rarely invitations one make choices about.

I continute to look from Liz to Ms. Brennan and back, waiting for one of them to give me a clue.

[M]

~*AISLING*~

I look at Max a moment, unsure how to answer his question. Luckily for me the bell rings just then, and I smile quickly and say 'It may be nothing, but I think you and I should get to know one another a little better Max.'

He looks at me for a second, puzzled and it seems a little anxious. So I turn to Liz and bend down so I can speak quietly to her, without the rest of the class hearing.

'I understand when things seem really difficult, but you know I'm on your side. Please come back after class so I can help you.'

Not waiting for a reply I straighten and walk back to the front of the class. I begin my lecture on light waves, determined to put this out of my mind until after school when it can be dealt with.