*Surprise*

* * * * *

"So tell me Liz, what do you want for your birthday." Max asked Liz as they walked to 4th period together.

Liz stopped walking, smiled at him and said "Do you count?" She laughed as Max blushed.

"No seriously. Want do you want, that I could buy." Max said, despretley trying to get a hint as to what she wanted.

"I don't know, surprise me with something. We're going to be late for class come on." She said as she planted a kiss on his lips and grabbed his hand and pulled him to class.

At the Crashdown, later that afternoon...

"So Michael, you know what to do tommorow?" Max was telling him as they took thier seats at their booth. "This plan has to work, it's all a matter of timing, and not telling her."

"Oh here come the gang," Liz said to Maria as she spotted Isabelle, Michael and Max walk into the restaraunt. Maria saw Max's glare at her that told her that Liz was not to come take their order because they were 'talking'.

"Hey Maria, I'll go take their ord--" Liz said as she turned to thier table.

Maria pulled her back. "NO, LIZ!, um I mean noo, tommorow's your birthday, I'LL go take their order, you...you, go, clean tables, it's easier!" she mentally kicked herself for her stupid quick thinking excuses.

"Ok, Maria, don't have a heart-attack, I'll go clean the counter off. You can take their, order. You probably just want to make eye's with Michael anyways." She laughed as she walked off to grab a towel.

"Hey guys, ok I got her to clean tables instead of coming over here. So whats the plan for tommorow?" Maria asked.

"I take her out for the best day of her life, while you and Michael set up in here while Isabelle and Alex are getting all the food, and supplies. Got it? Be done by 7:00pm, because that's when i'm going to bring her here." Max said with sheer determination. He was determined to give Liz the best birthday ever.

"Hey Maria, you and me in here all day tommorow setting up, think you can keep your hands off me?" Michael said with a smirk.

"Oh God" Isabelle spoke up.

"Oh geesh, that will be so tough." Maria said as she rolled her eyes at him.

* * * * *

Part 2

The next day, Saturday...Liz's birthday.

"There's the birthday girl." Max said as he picked up Liz from her house at 12:00pm. "Are you ready for a day of birthday fun." Max said trying to sound like a fool.

Liz giggled at his sudden 'human' foolishness. "Yeah I am, by the way, where are we going?" She had been trying to figure this out ever since Max told her they were spending the day together.

"Uh huh! Nope, thats for me to know, and for you to find out, come on." he said as he pulled her into his car.

At the crashdown, around the same time...

"Hey there's my talkative best girl." Michael said jokingly as he saw Maria walk into the restaurant.

"Really where?" Maria said, she knew he was talking about her. "mmm good-morning to you too, by the way, here's a breath mint." She said after he kissed her, then she handed him a mint.

Michael looked at her, with an evil eye. But he quickly turned his back to check his breath, shrugged his shoulders and ate the mint. "So your ready to get started on this place. Max said it needs to be done by 7. Got that? Now get to work." He said as he sat in one of the booths after handing her the bag of materials.

Maria looked at him with shock and a laugh. "You will get your alien butt off that seat or...or i will...i'll tell you why some women prefer tampons over pads!" Maria laughed when she saw his expression.

Michael's eyes got wide and he jumped out of the seat, and started searching for something to do. "Ok, Ok i'm going, where do you want to start."

'Aww he is too cute.' She said to herself before she kissed him and started searching through the bag of materials. She handed him a broom from the wall and sh grabbed some spounges from the bag. "Here, you sweep the floor, and I'll clean the counters and whatever else I find with dust, dirt or food on it. They we'll get to the party stuff." She said, with sheer determination.

"Oh goodie....super. Leave me with the boring things to do." He grumbled as took the broom and walked away to sweep.

Max and Liz meanwhile, were driving down the highway. "Max are we close to where we're going?" Liz asked.

"Maybe...yeah we are just a little more." Max saw his exit, and turned off the highway.

"Oh Max! Are we going, where I think we're going?" Liz asked with excitment.

"Yep, Cafe Felicia. Your mom told me it was your favorite place to eat. So I thought we could grab some lunch here before the fun starts? Is that ok?" Max knew the answer.

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheeck. Then she put her head down on his shoulder while he drove.

"I'll take that as a yes." He answered.

At the grocery store....

"Are you sure Liz likes this stuff?" Isabelle asked Alex. "I mean, gross, yellow cake with vanilla frosting? Doesn't that girl like chocolate cake? And whats with the little colored marshmellow? I prefer big white puffy ones!" Isabelle said.

"Isabelle, this is not your party it's Liz's. Now I have know her for a long time, I think I know what she likes by now. If you don't like the foods, then you can deal." He said with frustration. All afternoon long at the supermarket Is had been complaining about what foods they bought.

"Oh Oh OH! Alex, stop the carriage. We need tabasco sauce. Just because your humans have weird taste buds, doesn't mean Max, Michael and I have to suffer. Now wait a minute while I stock up on it." Isabelle was like a little girl in a candy store.

Alex rolled his eyes and looked with disgust while Isabelle placed 5 bottles of that gross tabasco sauce in the cart. "Oh how gross is that." He said as he pushed the cart.

"Shut up." She said, playfully as she jokingly hit him in the arm.

* * * * *

Part 3

"Ok, Max now that I've officially had the best breakfast ever. Where are we off too next?" Liz asked as they got back into the car.

"Liz, you know I won't tell you. Now please stop looking at me like that." Max saw how Liz gave him the puppy dog eyes and his heart melted.

"Fine, fine, leave me in utter suspense. See if I care. Oh Max, turn the radio up I love this song!"

'Oh I can't take another heartache

You say your my friend,

I'm have my wits send,

you say your love is bonified

But that dont coinside

With that things that you do

when i ask you

to be nice

You say

You gotta be Cruel to be kind

IN the right measure

Cruel to be kind

Its a very good sign

Cruel to be kind

Means that I love you

Baby....you gotta be cruel to be kind

Well i do my best to understand you

But you still mistify

I wanna know why

I pick myself off of the ground

to have you knock down

again and again

when i ask you to explain

you say

CHorus

Well I do my best to understand you

but you still mystify

I pick myself off of the ground

again and again

and when I ask you to explain

Chorus

baby.....

Cruel to be kind

IN the right measure

Cruel to be kind

its a very very very good sign

Cruel to be kind

means that I love you

You gotta be cruel to be kind!' (Cruel to be kind - Letters to Cleo)

"Eh, that songs ok." Max said.

"Oh I like it."

"OH Liz,

"Close your eyes, we're here." Max abrubtly said.

"We're where?"

"Here, Close them! Quickly." Max saw Liz's eyelids shut, he knew it was safe to drive into the place. Max giggled to himself. 'Wait till she see's this place'.

Isabelle and Alex walked into the Crashdown with about 5 bags of ballons to be blown up, streamers, banners, markers, tape, plates, napkins, and the cake.

"Micahel!? Maria?" Alex and Isablle said as they looked around the deserted place. "Where the hell did they go?" Isabelle asked getting annoyed.

"Oh well, lets just put this stuff in the back and get started on this place." Alex grabbed the bags and walked into the back. "Oh geesh. Umm Isabelle, lets just get started out here!" Alex said looking into the back.

"What? Whats back there. Oh no, is it... Are they?" Isabelle looked into the backroom and her suspicions were confirmed. Maria and Michael were...well they were. Making out. "OH gross me out" Maria and Michael must have heard her say this. They quickly got up, and brushed themselves off.

"Hey guys." Was all Michael said. But Maria was slightly more embarassed.

"Oh um, guys...We didn't know you were back yet. We were...well we were, were, umm. SO what do you say we get started here. It'll take awhile to get things set up. Right Michael...Michael." She noticed Michael giving her a dopey grin. She elbowed him in the stomach.

"Ow, umm Yeah yeah thats right, we need to get supplies." Michael said getting back to the real world from his daze.

"Hello earth to Michael, me and Alex went shopping. God you two must have had a really good time in there."

Maria and Michael just looked at each other and smirked.

* * * * *

Part 4

The Crashdown was beggining to look a little like a place where a Birthday party could be held.

Maria sat on the floor breathless. She had been blowing up ballons for the part hour. "Oh geesh, If I never blow up another ballon it will be too soon. I can't blow any more up, I'm out of breath, no more, uh huh, I'm spent. There's nothing left in me."

Michael stopped from putting the streamers up and looked at Maria and smiled. He got down off of the foot ladder he was on and walked over to her. He gave her one of the most passionate kisses ever. "Better?" He asked.

Maria nodded her head. "Uh huh, any more ballons you need blown up?" She asked. Isabelle, Michael and Alex both laughed at her last comment. "What?" She asked dumbfounded.

Max and Liz drove into the parking lot of her next surprise.

"Ok, we're here you can open your eyes." Max smiled at Liz taking off her blindfold and her eyes adjusting to the light.

"Oh Max, 'Paintballon Palace' This place just opened up a few months ago, I've been dying to go here! Oh thank you so much." She said as she hugged him.

"Well what are we waiting for, lets go." The both hopped out of the jeep and walked to the enterance.

Once inside, they paid and walked out to the back lot outside where the paint fun began. The basis of this game was to run around a bunch of obstacles while you try to hit your aponant(s) with as many paint filled ballons as you can, while you dodge their ballons.

They walked out to the lot in their white jump suits to keep the paint from going on their clothing and goggles on their eyes.

"You know Liz, you look good, but you have one thing missing." Max asked as he walked around the obstacles.

Liz gave Max a curious look. "What? I thought I had everything on?" Liz checked herself over.

Max secretly put his hand in his bag without Liz seeing him and pulled out a ballon. "THIS!" and he smacked her over the head with a balloon.

"Oh my God, you are so going to die" Liz ran around trying to catch up with Max. While Max was running and he had his back to her, she took this as an oppertunity to hide in one of the barrels.

Max looked around and didn't see Liz anywhere. 'She's hiding' he thought to himself. "LIZ? Where are you? Come on out!" He shouted trying to get his attention.

Lix peeked her eyes out and saw him directly in front of her, yet his back was turned to her. She laughed on the inside. "Boo!" she shouted to get his attention. He turned and she smacked him in the center of his face with a ballon. "Hehehehe" She laughed as she jumped out of the barrel. "You did not just do that. You will pay."

Max picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. Liz tried to get free, but it was no use. He dropped her in the sand pile. "Hey!" she laughed/shouted to him.

Normal. Thats how both of them would have described this time. They were being normal teenagers, playing a normal game, have a normal great time.

Liz found a green balloon in her bag, and when Max turned around she hit him again in the face. His whole face was covered with green. "Hey Max, your true alien color shows."

"Ha ha ha funny funny funny" He pulled her close to him "Get over here" And he kissed her, although his plan was to get the paint on her too. Then he smacked a red balloon in her face. "Hey Liz, are you blushing?"

"Well I am officially pooped!" Isabelle sighed as she sat in one of the booths with Michael, Alex, and Maria." They were all drinking sodas and eating fries.

"Its not fair, how come Max gets to take Liz out and have a good time, how come I didn't get to take her out, I mean I am her best friend? huh?" Maria was tired. When she gets tired she complains.

"Because you have me instead!" Michael piped up. "Now who would you rather be with, Me or Liz?"

Maria rolled her eyes. "Do I have to dignify that with an actual answer?" She asked.

"Well ok then, but if you were with Liz, could she do this?" And Michael kissed her sweetly.

"Umm, no I don't think so." She smiled at Michael.

"So Alex what about you. Are you as tired as the rest of us?" Maria asked.

"Me? We have just spent the past 5 1/2 hours decorating this place to give Liz the best party. I would think that I would be tired. So in answer to your question, yes I am extremely tired." Alex took another sip of his drink.

"Ohh, you poor baby." Isabelle said with humor in her voice.

"You be quiet." Alex said.

"Well only about an hour and a half left until they get here. I don't know about you all but i'm going to rest." Isabelle said as she got up to go lay on another booth and try to get a few cracks of sleep.

"Hmm Ditto" Maria said as she layed on Michaels chest and closed her eyes.

Michael and Alex both leaned against the wall, both of them being on opposite sides of the booth. And they tried to get a few moments of sleep before getting up again.

* * * * *

Part 5

"Well, I can honestly say that today was the best day of my life so far." Liz said as Max and her stepped out of the jeep. Max smiled at her and nodded in agreement. "Oh geesh, I told Maria that when she closed up this afternoon to leave a light on for me. I always end up tripping on something in the dark."

"Well, lets just hope you don't break anything." Max said as Liz began to unlock the door to the Crashdown. "Goodnight Max."

"Well, Goodnight Liz, and I hope you had great day." As Liz turned her back, Max smiled, knowing what was going to happen next.

"I had the best birthday ever." She turned and leaned in for a kiss from Max after succesfully unlocking the door.

The next thing either of them heard was "SUPRISE!" coming from inside the cafe as the lights flickered on, and she saw all the streamers, ballons, and banners for her. Max turned to her and said "Happy Birthday".

"Oh my, Maria, Michael, Isabelle, Alex! You did this all for me. I'm speechless. The place looks great, Wow, all the banners, and ballons-"

Maria cut in "I blew up the balloons". Obviously proud of her work.

"Well It all looks so great, and Max, you knew about this the whole day and didn't even give me a hint!?"

"You know, I thought you said you were speechless" Michael cut in, seeing Liz babling.

"Come on, it's time for cake." Alex said as Mx walked Liz inside.

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Liz,

Happy Birthday to you.

"Make a wish" Isabelle commented before Liz grabbed a knife to cut the cake.

Liz thought for a moment. "Ok, now can I cut the cake." She asked.

They all nodded.

"Liz, you get the first piece." Maria said as she plopped a slice onto a plate.

As she handed out the slices, Liz told everyone about her and Max's day. After the cake was games.

"Ok, OK now I know this is childish, but we decided to get a pinata. Because, well because we thought it was cute and well who cares. Liz you get the first swing." Maria said as she grabbed a bat from the corner of the room. "You each get two hits." Maria place the blindfold on Liz and stepped away. Her first swing she missed. Her second swing hit, but it obviously wasn't hard enough because she didn't break it.

Maria was up next. Isabelle put the blindfold on her and her first swing she hit Michael, direct in the stomach. "Ow! Hey you hit me!" Michael complained.

Maria raised her blindfold to her forehead and smirked "I know". Then she lowered it and wacked again, this time getting nothing but air.

"Michael you want to go next." Max asked.

"Sure thing" He said, still in a bit of pain from Maria's hit. ::WACK:: First hit the pinata broke and candy plattered everywhere.

"Michael pretty impressive." Maria said as she looked in amazment of his strength.

"Well I was just pretending I was hitting you instead." He laughed as she gave him an evil eye. After that everyone was down on the ground scraping for candy. Yet somehow afterwards they ended up in a big pretzel formation on the ground.

"Its twister" Commented Isabelle, "only the painful version" Eventually the all had there amounts of candy and somehow gotten untangeled. What a surprise.

The End