Max cannot help,but notice something troubles her.  He is sure that she is upset. He can sense this in her voice.  He thinks, what is that bothers her though?  Should he ask her or just let her spills the beans when she is ready too?

          "Max,I  do not want to persuade you to make a decision just yet." Rose says, with a sad tone to her voice.

         *"Rose,"he says, with concern into his phone, "I  do not understand. I thought you would be happy for me!" 

          "Max, it is just London!  Also, you will be gone for months!  I  happen to look into it. It says, the competition for nationals for math and science will not be back for at least six months!  Why that is half a year!" Rose wails.

            Max feels like a bee just stung him.  He can tell it troubles Rose that he might be gone for longer than just a few weeks. He never once thought that she should want him to forgo his dream!  He shakes his head.

             " I  will miss you!  Do not worry though, I  will be fine!  Just go ahead and pursue your dream!  It is not right for me to expect you to stay here," Rose replies. Her tears can be heard as clearly as if she were in the same room as him.

              "Do not worry, we will keep in touch!" Max promises. He has every intention to do so!

              Rose does not say another word. She cannot. She hangs up the phone before she tries to stop him. She must not be the cause of his indecision.  She would never forgive herself if she did.
 

            Two weeks later, it is time!  Time for Max to leave for London!  Time for him to head on his way to the moment he has been waiting for forever!  Why does he feel like something holds him back?  What could it be?  Should he risk it all? 

         Rose stands in her room. She is not sure what to do!  She is the type who does what she cans to help others be happy.  She is shy, yet when the opportunity comes she does what she can for her few friends she has to remain well, happy. She does not know it yet, but she lacks her own happiness!

        She picks up the phone to call Max.  No, she better not!  She cannot  trouble him now.  Why the guy probably has enough math equations and science terms in his head to fill several dozen encyclopedia's  as it is anyway!  She smiles at the notation.  She really does want to be supportive of him!  

       Max looks at the time.  He smiles.  If he hurries now, he has just enough time to greet Rose, before he has to leave for  London!  He rushes out the door.  He puts his things into his pickup truck, he climbs in and drives to Rose's  place.  He pulls up, parks, gets out, and rings the doorbell.  He has no idea what he will even say to her.

     Rose hears the doorbell ring. She does not recall  company being on her list of things for today's schedule. She checks the calendar. She has a clear day. She answers the door. She finds herself face to face with him. She smiles. 

     "D-Do come in and make yourself comfortable!" Rose says.

      "There is not much time, before we leave for the competition." Max remarks.

     "Yes, that is right!  It is today!" Rose says softly.

       Max looks at her. He seems a gleam in her eyes he has not seen in a long time. He finds that he feels comfortable with her. He hears himself sigh. He blushes. He hears her say, "Here, its some green tea just the way you like it!"  He knows he did not ask for any tea.

      Rose smiles. She sees him look at her in surprise at the gesture that she offers him. She notices him lighten up as he drinks the tea slowly from the cup.  She can see a small amount of steam rise from the cup as if it agrees with the circumstances they find themselves in right now.

     Max finishes the tea. He stands up. He feels something touch his pocket. He does not look to see what it might be at all.  He just turns to go!  He walks out and leaves her there with a look of confusion in her eyes.

      Rose goes after him!  She gives him a quick silent hug!   She knows it is not the hug a friend usually receives from another friend. She does not care. She can feel him return it. She feels like she is caught up in a romantic moment in a movie!  

     All to soon, the moment ends, when he lets go! Max looks at her with longing.

      He says, "Rose,take care!  I will  write everyday!"

       Rose replies,  "See that you do!  I will wait for your letters."  She turns away so he cannot see her tears. She does not want him to change his mind for her. She walks back inside her home, closes the door, locks it and sighs. She thinks, that was the hardest thing to do!

        Max gets on his ride. The ride to take him far from home and from her!  He shakes his head. He thought this would be so easy!  He laughs as he realizes for the first time since he found out he was in the nationals, things are not as easy as once thought!  He closes his eyes. He sleeps.

        Rose in her small home, reads for a bit, then paints. She found she likes to paint ever since, Nathaniel taught her. She never did tell Max this though. She figures why make him jealous!  Not to say that she has a reason to feel this way about him!  It is not like Max knows how she feels, right?  She thinks, funny how things are not as easy as she thought they would be,but they are still part of life.

       to be continued in Chapter 2  Competition Day 1, Mathematics!