Author Note: I know it's been a while. Schools rough, but I finally have some breathing room. Here's a new part.

Part 3

After everything that's happened today (Tess, Michael, Liz, Max…) I felt that there was really only one thing that could take my mind off of, well life.

One word: McDreamy

So I curled up on my couch downstairs with my mom's famous (to me, anyways) chicken noodle soup and watched one of the best shows ever created.

As I became helplessly engrossed in the current situations of Seattle Grace, I 'm rudely interrupted by the rather loud banging at my front door. Frowning, I look over to see that it's 9:30pm. Everyone knows not to interrupt me on Thursday nights between 9 and 10pm. Who the hell could it be?

Angrily I put my soup down and stomp to the front door hoping whoever it is will be quick so I don't miss anything. I open the door, about to give my unexpected visitor 20 seconds then a door in their face when I stop at the sight of a worried Alex an extremely pissed off Kyle.

"Maria, we have a problem", Alex says nervously while sneaking glances at Kyle.

Without greeting Kyle rudely brushes past me and into my living room. Alex follows him and I close my door wondering what they were doing here.

When I enter my living room I see Alex sitting on my couch drinking my soup watching my McDreamy while Kyle is pacing so hard I swear I see burn marks in my carpet.

"Okay, what's going on?" I ask breaking the silence.

"I don't really know", Alex then sighs and continues, "I'm on my way here to see what's up with you since you've been hiding out lately. I run into Kyle who's also on his way here, but he's pissed. Really pissed. He wouldn't talk to me, he just keeps mumbling about Tess and Max, Michael and Liz, and …Buddha? Are you two okay?"

Suddenly the light bulb clicked on, Tess told Kyle. So Kyle decided to... I wasn't sure what he was here to do actually.

"How long?" Kyle says to me as he turns his glare full beam in my direction.

"How long, what?"

Kyle takes a step forward and without thinking I take a step backwards, not liking what I was seeing in his eyes.

"How long did you know that Max and Tess were fucking around behind my back?"

In the background I hear Alex make a choking sound but I have my hands full with Kyle so I ignore it.

"Kyle, it isn't like that. She only told me today and I told her, repeatedly might I add, that she had to tell you. Would you have rather her keep this from you?"

"That's not the point…you knew and you didn't tell me". Kyle takes another step forward to which I take another step back. "She slept with Max! She says she loves me and then she sleeps with, him. Every time I'm happy, that bastard comes along and takes it away. First Liz, then my dad and now Tess."

"Kyle, she didn't mean to." I hope. "It was the memory; it took control of them both. She loves you, she's been punishing herself for something she couldn't control because she's afraid you'll behave…like this".

"Yea, like you need to talk to Michael? How about Liz? During her little confession, Tess told me everything."

"Maria?" Crap, I forgot about Alex being here. I definitely didn't want him to find out like this.

I turn to Alex to try to undo some of the damage. "Alex, it's nothing. Kyle's just mad."

Kyle's bitter chuckle captures my attention and I feel dread come over me as I realize what he's going to do."I just find it funny that you're quick to convince me to forgive Tess for cheating on me with Max when you haven't spoken to Liz in days for fucking your loser boyfriend"

"Maria? What is he talking about? Liz wouldn't do that, she loves Max and Michael loves you. They wouldn't…" Alex abruptly shuts his mouth as I turn to face him.

"Fucking aliens" Kyle states punching the wall.

"Maria…"

Not wanting to face Kyle's anger or Alex's questions, I did the one thing I've perfected these last few weeks. I ran away, into my room and collapsed against the wall. If it had only been Kyle I would've been fine but I didn't want Alex to see me…so weak. I was ashamed that I had cowardly kept the events to myself.

"Maria" Alex said a second behind me as he knocked on my bedroom door. He then opened the door and took a seat next to me.

For a while neither of us spoke. I couldn't even face him because I knew if I did then I would…I don't know be sad again. Be angry, even. I suddenly realized why I was shying myself away from everyone that once or still mattered to me. Liz and Michael were my everything and they betrayed me. Alex was my best friend and I couldn't tell him that they destroyed a huge part of me because then I would be back at that night again. Seeing them. Hearing the lies and I didn't want to be there again. It was easy to tell Tess because I wasn't really close to her, heck I didn't even like her until today. I promised Alex that I would never lie to him or keep him in the dark again. There I was so quick to ruin the only good thing in my life. I'm such an idiot.

"It's true", I admitted with fresh tears streaming down my face. "I saw them and I completely an away from it like a coward. I…didn't …couldn't…GOD ALEX, I cried my eyes out that night and since then I feel nothing. No anger, no pain, just this empty hole. What have I become? Who am I? I used to be Hurricane Deluca with a great boyfriend and a life-long best friend. Now…I just don't know."

Alex turns to face me and tilts my chin up, then says, "You are Maria Deluca. The kindest, gentlest, loudest and most caring person I know. You're my best friend, Kyle's almost sister and Amy Deluca's daughter. Who you are will come back to you. I promise".

"God Alex, I just…I'm so sorry", I turned to face him and grabbed his hand so he would know that this was the truth, "I didn't want to tell you the truth because I'm trying to forget and seeing you and hearing your concern, it would've taken me back to that time and place.". I begin to sob and had to whisper the truth about why I became this way. "I just wanted to forget."

Alex flashes his famous grin before saying, "It's not healthy for you to bottle that emotion up, I'm not going to pretend to even know what the two of them were thinking but I do know you and frankly I'm surprised that you didn't kill them both in their sleep".

We both share a sad laugh and I hug him because I realized just how important Alex was to me.

"I don't know where to go from here…I…have so much inside. So many questions, emotions, and confusion…will you help me?

Alex gets up and pulls me up to stand in front of him. In classic Whitman style he smirks and says, "You didn't think you could get rid of me so easily?"

My doorbell goes off again interrupting us moment. What the heck is this? A 7-11? Alex gives me a questioning stare and I shrug my shoulders in response and follow him downstairs.

"You! I'm gonna kill you", I hear Kyle yell to the new arrival.

Alex quickens into a run and I follow him not wanting my living room to turn into a crime scene.

Surprised I come to a halt at the bottom of the stairs when I see that our new arrival is really arrivals. Tess, Max, Isabelle…Michael and Liz.

TBC. Please Review.