13 years Later.
Maria woke up to the sound of her alarm clock. It was 5:30 am on a Saturday. Unfortunately she had to work.
To think, this was her 18th birthday, and the first birthday she would be spending without Alex by her side. How did this happen? How could she make it through the day without one of Alex's goofy smiles or weird jokes about people they don't know…? Commonly known as tourists.
She pulled herself out of bed with sore legs, and a stiff back.
After her shower she got dressed into her uniform and put on a VERY light coat of make-up, as she always did. She didn't want to work today, she wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
She had a fight with Michael last night. It wasn't out of the usual, but it was night the night before her birthday, not that she celebrated it anyway.
She fixed her hair to the style she wanted it and looked at the clock.
6:15 am.
She grabbed her keys and headed for the door.
It only took her 5 minutes to get to the Crashdown, which meant she had time to grab some breakfast from the kitchen. Michael walked into the kitchen while she was making her breakfast. She didn't even notice when he walked through the back door.
She looked up at the clock, it was 6:30 and she was so glad Liz was out in the front opening up today.
"So, what? Your not even going to acknowledge me this morning?"
Maria jumped at the sound of his voice, and turned sharply to face him.
"When did you get here?" she asked as though she were out of breath.
"So, you didn't notice me at all?" he asked her and narrowed his eyes on her.
"No I didn't." he looked as though was taken aback.
"Are you ok?" he asked concerned for her, she looked like she didn't get much sleep at all last night. Which was kind of true.
"Nothing, I'm just peachy." She said turning back to her unfinished breakfast.
Just then Liz bounced through the door. "Maria, Sean's here to see you."
"Ok Liz, I'm coming."
"I thought Sean got his own place in New York. Why has he come back here?" Michael asked, with curiosity in his voice.
"He's here every year on this day, just for me." She replied walking out of the kitchen.
Michael moved to the window and pretended to be preparing something, so he could see what was going on.
"Hey M, how are doing?"
"Good S, and how are you?" she replied to Sean Sarcastically, and he pulled her into a tight embrace, she couldn't help but start to cry. She didn't want to cry but she couldn't hold it back from him, she never could today.
Is Maria… crying? Michael thought to himself. He fought every emotion that came to him. He wanted to be the one to hold her. He wanted her to be crying in his arms. Against his chest.
He noticed Liz standing beside him, watching them as well.
"What's the deal?" he asked her.
"It's just the day, that's all. They may pretend hate each everyday, but, they've never let each other down, not today."
"What's today?"
"That's not my place to say, Michael."
"Liz, tell me."
It's just a day Michael. I told you, I can't tell you the significance of today, please don't make me."
"Just tell me."
"Today's Maria's birthday. She hasn't celebrated it in 12 years. There. Are you happy now?"
"Why not?"
"Now, that's really not my place. I will not tell you that one,"
"Fine."
Michael and Liz went back to work; Mr. Parker made Maria go home for the rest of the day. Maria and Sean laid on her bed, in silence.