original_post:_3/26/2003________________ So a lot of people assume that Max's life was mine. It was not. I never went to Italy for a semester. I never went abroad at all. I had an idea that Max would need to be gone to allow for things to progress with Rae and Alli. Max's trip to Italy would also be reflected when Sabrina later shows up. But for now in this story, I needed to show that everything wasn't perfect for Rae in their relationship. Max obviously doesn't think anything is wrong and he's excited to go, not thinking about what that could mean for him and Rachael.