Title: In the Dark of the Moon
Author: Maea MacDermod
Email: maeve_aislinn@yahoo.com; feedback is like a drug to me! Please, feed the monkey!
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This story takes place before TLV (for the acronymically impaired that's Tess, Lies, and Videotape) while some of the events in Crazy did happen, I chose to ignore others.
Summary: Maria's dreams force the gang to overcome adversity and face a common enemy (or friend) Read it… you'll see.
Category: M/M with some happy Mx/L overtones
Author's Notes: this story has been basically "Jaced"— kinda like being "Jossed", only with less vampires.
It's an interesting thing to see what sleep deprivation can do to people… some go crazy, some write fic.
***
" In the dark of the moon, we have our dreams to light the path." ~ Unknown.
***
Maria DeLuca shuffled around her room stuffing various items into her overnight bag. Just as she was preparing to walk into the living room, Amy DeLuca, Maria's mom, opened the door.
"What *are* you doing, Maria? Do you realize you're making enough noise to wake the dead?"
Maria shot her mom a side glance. "I'm spending the night at Liz's," she answered, tossing her makeup caddie into the bag.
"And when were you planning on telling me this? It is a school night, you know… and last I checked, I was still the parental unit around here."
The short blonde smiled at her mother. "Yeah, I know… it's just… well… I have to study for a bio test. You know that Liz is the best in the class, and… well, I haven't been doing too well. So, Liz offered to help me cram all the knowledge of the universe into my head at the last minute… tonight."
Amy stood with her arms crossed, sizing up her only daughter. Finally she caved. "Fine! Go! But you'd better do good on this test, Maria. No staying up all night doing facials and talking about boys."
Maria gave her a quick hug, "Don't worry, Ma… that's so not going to happen!" Then she rushed out the door.
* * *
Michael Guerin answered the door to his apartment sleepily, grumbling to himself. //So much for getting to bed early tonight,// he thought.
Expecting to see Max or Isabel at the door, he was surprised when it was Maria instead. "Hey," he said, moving aside so that she could enter. Michael should be accustomed to her coming over now, since she spends most weekends with him at night. He wondered how she got her mom to approve a sleep-over night during the week, not that he actually believed that Amy DeLuca had any clue where her daughter really was the times that she was with him.
Maria walked in quietly and went straight to the bathroom to change. She came out minutes later with a clean face and her bunny pajamas on. Michael stifled the chuckle that bubbled into his throat. Without any words, the two of them laid down onto his bed, got comfortable and immediately fell asleep.
* * *
The next morning, Michael was awake long before the alarm, and Maria who was cuddled to his side. He liked to wake early, so that he could take the few minutes to just look at her.
//For someone who's so against any attachments, you're getting pulled into her too easily.// he thought, memorizing the curves of her face. //How the hell did I get so lucky to have this angel next to me in the morning? What did I do so right?// He only wished that he had the courage, and the right words, to tell all this to Maria's face.
Michael reached out and stroked her cheek, watching as her eyes fluttered open. "Is it morning already?" she asked.
"Yeah. What are you doing here?" The question sounded harsher than he intended.
She sat up in bed, "It's just that I sleep so much better when I'm with you. I'm sorry if you don't like that." Maria got up and walked towards the small bathroom to get ready for school, but Michael intercepted her before she was able to close the door.
"No, I didn't say that. I'm sorry that it seemed that way," he kissed her lips gently.
Maria just closed her eyes, "Why do we spend most of our time apologizing to each other? Just forget it. Come on, we're going to be late for school if we stand here all day."
She shut the door, and Michael smiled… another thing that he wished he could do in front of Maria.
...
They ran out of the apartment, and piled into Maria's car before she realized that she forgot her overnight bag.
Michael started to argue with her but stopped, got out, and went back in for it. Less than a minute passed before Michael ran back to the car, tossing the stuffed canvas bag into the back seat of the Jetta. "I don't see why you couldn't just pick your clothes up after school," he said, grumpily.
Maria rolled down her window, throwing the car in reverse. "I have more things in there besides my PJ's, Michael. Things I'll need before the end of the day. It's a girl thing, don't try to understand." She pulled away from his building towards the direction of school. Neither of them noticed Isabel sitting in her mother's car around the corner watching them and listening to everything they said.
* * *
Isabel Evans was angry, though she didn't quite know why. //What business is it of mine, who Michael spends his nights with,// she thought to herself. //None… none what so ever, but why does it have to be her…. Maria.// The name left a bad taste in her mouth. //What does he see in her?//
The loud bell signaling the end of yet another mundane class broke Isabel from her reverie. The tall blonde gathered her books then left the class, unfortunately bumping into the last person she wanted to see in the crowd of students... Maria.
"Oaf," Isabel snarled.
Maria was taken aback, "What?"
"You heard me, Maria."
"Jeeze, what's eating you?" The shorter of the two women backed away a bit.
Isabel didn't stand down. "You… you and your attitude."
"My attitude? What in the world is up with you, Isabel? If anyone here is in need of an attitude adjustment, it's you… Oh mighty Queen of West Roswell."
"How long have you been sleeping with Michael?" Isabel asked, completely out of nowhere.
"Excuse me? I'm not--."
Isabel cut her off, "Don't bother trying to lie, Maria. I went by his apartment this morning… I saw the two of you leaving together."
"I – I was just picking him up for school," she managed to say.
"LIE!" Isabel yelled. She rushed over to Maria's locker and manipulated the lock to easily open it. The alien reached in, grabbing the bulging knapsack.
Maria elbowed her way through the busy hall over to her stuff. "What do you think that you are doing? That's mine," she hissed through clenched teeth. "You have no right!"
By now the two teens had earned an audience. About a half dozen students gathered around the arguing girls, eagerly waiting to see if a fight would break out.
"You say that you haven't been with Michael? Well, I beg to differ," Isabel dumped the canvas bag onto the school hallway floor, rooting around the items until she found what she was looking for. She threw the pajamas at Maria. "Need your jammies at school much?"
"Who are you anyway, his mother?? I didn't realize that I would need your permission to sleep with Michael!" There was a gasp from the crowd, now that they realized with they were arguing about. A few girls nodded and yelled out, "Yeah, really!" and "Amen, sister."
"He's my friend, and I'm here to tell you that he doesn't need you."
Maria got right into Isabel's face. "Well, I beg to differ," she said snidely, mocking Isabel.
Before the spunky human realized it, Isabel shoved her and she was on the ground. The glimmer in Isabel's eyes terrified Maria, as she could only wait for the alien girl to attack her right there on the floor. The crowd around them grew to about twenty students, pulsating and cheering the fight on. One voice rose above all the others.
"Isabel, stop this!"
Maria glanced up to see Michael forcing his way through the crowd, followed closely by Max. Michael positioned himself between his fellow alien and the human on the floor, while Max helped Maria to her feet, and gathered her stuff.
"Are you okay?" Max asked her, quietly. "She didn't use—"
Maria stopped him before he could say too much in the large crowd. "No. I'm fine, Max," she tried to reassure him, but she wasn't too sure of it herself. The whole incident really affected the pixie blonde.
Michael glanced over his shoulder to check on Maria. Once he saw that she was not hurt, he turned back to Isabel. "What the hell do you think you were doing, Iz? What's this all about?"
"I know what's been going on, Michael. I saw the two of you this morning."
"And that's why you'd do this? Attack Maria? She's our friend… she's my—"
"Don't say it… I'll be sick if you say what I think you're going to say," she angrily interrupted. "No attachments, Michael. Isn't that what you're always telling us?"
He roughly grabbed her by the elbow. "Not here. If you have something smart to say, Isabel, you can talk. But we're not going to discuss *this* now."
Isabel jerked her arm away. "I expect this from Max, but not you. She's sucking you in…"
Michael didn't want to hear anymore. He whirled away, took Maria's hand, and stomped down the hall.
"She's sucking you in…" she repeated. The mass of students started to dissipate, leaving the brother and sister alone in the hallway.
"Don't… Max…. don't look at me like that," she said turning away from him.
"Isabel," he began, then hesitated. Finally he made up his mind what to say, and spoke again. "Don't even think about trying this with Liz."
She watched him, openmouthed, as he just walked away from her. No asking why she did it, no wanting to over-analyze her motives… nothing. He just went away.
* * *
Michael waited until they were safely in the eraser room before he even uttered a word to Maria. He could tell that she was disturbed by the whole ordeal… the fear was virtually oozing from her.
"Are you…" he started to ask, touching her face and shoulders to make sure that nothing was harmed.
Maria stepped back from him, brushing away his contact. "Like I told Max, I'm fine."
"You don't look fine. You're shaking," he mentioned, pursing his lips skeptically.
"I'm just… a little shocked by Isabel… don't worry about me, okay. I won't let her little temper tantrum get to me," she tried to sound upbeat. Apparently it worked because he seemed to be convinced. "Come on, we should get to history class."
"Are you sure? Isabe—," Michael was silenced with a sharp glance from Maria. "All right… let's go. Mr. Sommers will be surprised to actually see me in class."
* * *
After the hellish day at school and a tough night at work, Maria decided to treat herself by lounging in an aromatherapy bubble bath to calm her nerves. She tried to relax, but found herself running the events of the day over and over in her head… then she thought of Michael and how weirdly supportive he had been lately. Inhaling the soothing aroma of the bath water, Maria closed her eyes for only an instant.
The stress started to ebb away, leaving Maria feeling peaceful, content… eerily subdued. Color flashed behind her closed eyelids, at first quickly and brightly, then slowing… eventually fading away. In their place, a figure formed. Although she could only see a silhouette of the person, Maria knew it was Michael. She knew his stance… his spiky hair… his essence. The dark man reached a hand out towards her, however before she could step to him, another figure formed. This one tall and feminine — Isabel. A sense of coldness swept over Maria as the Isabel shadow forced the Michael shadow to lower his outstretched limb, puling him away. The human girl wanted to rush forward, to stop the other girl from taking away Michael, but she was frozen in place. Panicked, she called out to his back.
"Michael — No!"
He continued to walk away, but the dark female at his side turned, and stared at Maria with glowing red eyes. The girl wanted to scream, only there was a horrible pressure in her lungs… she felt as if her chest would explode…
Maria woke up suddenly, completely immersed in the frigid water of her bath, her lungs burning for oxygen. She quickly sat up straight, coughing and gasping for air, looking around trying to get her bearings. The mountain of bubbles that were piled around her when she filled the tub only minutes ago were gone, not to mention the water was no longer steaming hot. In fact, a quick glance in the mirror showed Maria's lips were pale, almost blue. The water was COLD!
//This is impossible// she thought. //I just closed my eyes for a second!//
A knock on the bathroom door startled Maria and she jumped out of the bath, grabbing her favorite fluffy towel to wrap around her shivering body.
"Maria? Come on, what are you doing in there?" Her mom asked, through the door.
"Gee, Ma. Can't I get a little peace and quiet. I'm just trying to relax here," she answered.
"I gave you peace and quiet… for almost two hours… now…"
The teen didn't listen to the rest of Amy's ranting. //Two hours?// Maria picked up her watch off the edge of the porcelain sink — her mom was right. She had been sleeping in the tub for more than an hour and a half. //I could have drowned… I almost drowned!//
She threw on her bath robe and opened the door, hoping her mother wouldn't notice her blue lips or terrified expression.
"It's nice of you to join us, Your Highness." Amy smiled, mockingly bowing.
Maria just walked past her, down the hall to her bedroom. "I'm going to bed… I'm, um… not feeling too well. Good night."
"Good night, hon. See you in the morning." Maria shut her door behind her and barely heard her mom's last words. "Sweet dreams."
* * *
Maria's dreams were anything but sweet… and when the blonde woke up the next morning, she was as tired as when she went to sleep. All night long, images of Michael ran through Maria's subconscious. Every time that she tried to reach out and touch him, the glowing eyes of Isabel appeared, causing Maria to lose him.
The teen walked through the bustling school halls in a daze, not even realizing that she just passed by her best friend.
"Maria! Hey, what's up?" Liz asked, concerned.
She blinked, trying to focus. "Oh, hey, Liz. What's up?"
"That's what I just asked. Where are you? Jupiter?" Liz laughed. "Late night out? You know…" she gestured toward the general direction of Michael and Max, both of whom were heading their way.
"No… anyway it's not like that," she snapped, shaking her head. Maria immediately felt guilty about her tone of voice when she saw the hurt expression on Liz's face. "I'm sorry… It's just that… I didn't sleep well last night…" The two girls hugged. "I'm sorry… Forgive me?"
"Yeah… it's totally okay, Maria."
The boys walked up and Max draped his arm over Liz's shoulders, leaning in for a gentle kiss. "Hi."
Liz smiled shyly. "Hi."
As Maria looked over to Michael, the images of her dreams invaded her head. He reached over to put his arm around her like Max was doing to his girlfriend and she could swear that she saw his eyes glow an evil red. She pulled away in a panic. "Don't touch me!" she said, rather harshly.
The three friends stared at her in shock. "What's wrong, Maria?" Michael asked.
She couldn't even look at them. "Nothing," the girl mumbled.
"Yeah, right. Whatever." Michael started to stalk away, but changed his mind in mid stride and took Maria's arm, leading her into an empty classroom.
"What are you doing?" she protested, resisting the urge to run from him.
Michael closed the opaque glass door, turning to her. "What's eating you, Maria? I mean, you keep telling me that you want what they have, and when I try you just freak out. Give me a clue here… tell me what to do!"
"I don't want what Max and Liz have. I want us to have something… else. Something special. You don't have to do exactly what he does, Michael. You should show affection in your own way."
"I can't. I wasn't raised like them, in that whole wishy-washy loving family crap… all I had was myself. So, I guess I can't show what I don't know, huh?"
She just stood there, not speaking, with her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Michael noticed her change in attitude, and moved forward. "I'm sorry… but I'm trying." He stroked her cheek, causing her to look up into his eyes. "This isn't about our relationship, is it? What's wrong? Is it this thing with Isabel? Did she do something else to you?"
"No… there's nothing wrong. I'm just tired." Maria had to take a step back from him, and reached into her purse to pull out a little vial of peppermint oil. She inhaled it deeply.
"This seems like more than 'just tired', Maria…"
"I'm serious, Michael. Everything's all right… and I'll feel better after a good night's sleep." She moved to the exit, turning to flash him the best smile that she could muster before stepping out into the hall.
Liz and Max were waiting for them to the side of the doorway, but Maria didn't even notice the two. She walked on to her next class.
"Maria?" Liz called out after her and started to follow, concerned.
The two boys went off in the other direction towards the gym. "So? Is she…" Max questioned.
"Who knows! She won't tell me anything. Women! Who can figure them out?" Michael said, exasperated.
Max slapped his best friend on the back and laughed. "I really don't think that we're meant to, Michael."
* * *
Sleep did not come easily for Maria that second night either. The images of Michael and his red glowing eyes plagued the girl until she finally just woke up and stayed awake until morning. She was sitting up in her bed, shivering, when Amy came into get her up for school.
"Good, you're up! I thought I might act all domestic and make pancakes for breakfast. Why don't you get dressed and meet me in the kitchen… Honey? Maria, are you listening to me?"
She looked up blankly, and flinched when she saw the form of Michael behind her mother, his eyes a smoldering red. Before she could scream, the figure faded away. "I'm not hungry, mom," was all she said.
"Are you sure? I bought wheat germ at the market the other day… I can make 'em the way you love them."
"Not hungry," Maria repeated, standing to get ready for school.
"Oh. Okay, maybe Saturday morning," Amy said, trying to hide her disappointment. "I'll see you tonight then, after work. I should get to the shop early."
* * *
The school day went by in a blur. Maria had managed to avoid all her friends the entire day, but now found herself getting into her waitress uniform in the employee dressing room at the CrashDown. The lack of sleep from the two previous nights was really wearing her down. She grabbed a bottle out of her backpack and as Liz entered the room, popped four pills into her mouth.
"You're not getting sick, are you?"
"No," she replied, flatly.
"Oh. I thought… um… is that Echinacea?" Liz asked, pointing to the bottle in her friend's fist.
Maria raised the bottle, irritated. "Ginseng… I'm tired so I thought it would help."
They finished getting ready in silence, Maria leaving the room first. She ran into Michael by the lockers.
"Hey. I didn't see you in school today," he said.
"Yeah? Well, I was there… next time you should look harder." Her tone was biting, and she passed him to get out into the dining room. Liz walked over to him.
"I don't want to pry, Michael… but…" she started, her gaze trailing after her best friend.
"Then don't, okay? I'll deal with this tonight." He grabbed an apron off the rack and went straight to work in the kitchen, with a vengeance. Jose, the other cook, had to move to get out of Michael's way. The Latino man just grinned at the 'gung-ho' cooking attitude his younger counterpart was showing.
The dinner rush began almost immediately, bringing in the eclectic mix of tourists, locals and daily regulars… like Max. Isabel had become ghost-like with the group ever since the hallway fight.
Maria was having a tough time managing her tables, her concentration and focus was completely gone. Every time Michael called for her to get the hot food out of the window, all she could see was the dream image of him… the one that she had been seeing for days.
"Excuse me, miss?" A customer snapped Maria's attention back to the Crashdown. She was standing at a table holding two plates of food. "Is that our food?"
She stared blankly at the woman and her six year old son. "Uh, yeah. You had the Captain Picard burger, right?" the waitress asked, glancing at the bleu cheese burger with a sesame seedless bun.
Liz rushed by Maria, noticing that every thing seemed to be okay with that situation, and walked to the kitchen to get Max's food. All night her section was so full she could barely stop by to talk to Max, but once his food was ready she took an extra minute to deliver it. The slender brunette leaned over the counter to refill his cherry coke and spoke in a hushed voice.
"I'm kind of worried about Maria, Max. She's been acting so strange since… the… um… the incident."
He turned to watch the petite blonde out of the corner of his eye, then glanced back at Liz. "She seems fine to me—"
The alien's thoughts were cut off as Maria exploded at a customer. "I'm telling you that if you ordered a Tommy Lee Jones, I would have written that down! You *asked* for a Sigourney Weaver!"
The woman stood, confronting Maria. "Why would I order a something with mushrooms when I'm allergic to them? I know what I said…"
Liz jumped in between the older woman and her friend. "Whoa, let's calm down," she turned to see Michael coming out of the kitchen to help. "Ma'am, we'll get your Tommy Lee Jones out here right away… Michael, can you take Maria into the back and tell Jose that we need a TLJ on the fly?"
He nodded reaching out for his girlfriend, but she backed away, glared at him, then she stalked off to the kitchen.
When Liz turned around from assuring the woman that her table's meal was on the house, she was pleasantly surprised to see Max with one of the long alien aprons on, taking the order of a new table. She stood there with an expression of whimsy on her face, watching him joke with the young children. Max leaned in to the oldest boy, who looked to be around six, and whispered into his ear. The two of them turned to the kitchen and waved excitedly at Michael, who waved back, confused. The kid and Max both laughed loudly as the older of the two walked away from the table.
Liz still watched him with her head cocked questionably to the side until he reached her.
"Wha—?" he asked.
"What did you just tell that kid?" she said, curiosity getting the better of her.
"I told him that my sister, myself and Michael are all aliens, descendants from the 1947 crash," he answered, matter-of-factly, "and that we're just like humans, rather run-of-the-mill really… except for the part about being from another planet, and being able to travel through time and space at will."
She gasped, "Max! You didn't!?"
He simply shrugged. "The kid asked," Max's eyes danced with laughter.
"Wow and I thought that picture of the fake alien I show the tourists was bad!"
They both walked in the back and immediately went over to Maria. The girl was sitting on the old couch, looking frailer than Liz had ever seen her. When she noticed their presence, Maria only glanced up at them briefly, then continued to stare at a spot on the wall.
"I'm really sorry, Liz." Maria began, her voice flat. "I have no clue what happened out there."
"Maria, I'm worried. There is definitely something wrong with you these past few days."
"I told you, I'm just…"
"Tired. Yeah, I know… I've heard. I just hope my dad has his cell. We're too short staffed tonight for me not to interrupt his 'date' with my mom."
Maria jumped up off the worn couch. "Liz, no… please don't. I can do my job. I just need a second and then I'll be back out there as good as ever."
"If you're so tired then maybe you should get to sleep early. Go home, Maria. Get some rest."
"Trust me…. I'll be fine. I'll even apologize to that lady out there… just don't call your dad."
Liz had a torn expression on her face. She wanted so badly to believe her best friend, but she was also the manager of the café when her parents were away. It was her responsibility to keep the staff in line. Finally in her inner turmoil, friendship won over duty.
"Okay, Maria… but once the rush is over, you're going home… to bed," the brunette said, firmly.
"Thankyou," Maria said in an exhaled rush, not even realizing that she had been holding her breath. She left them, and went to get the fresh burger out to the irate customer.
Max went to his girlfriend's side, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just wish that I knew what was going on with her. I mean, I've never seen her this way." Liz motioned to the alien-themed apron. "You don't have to work anymore."
"I kind of want to. I'm thinking this is a good look for me," he curtsied, flaring the metallic gray fabric out like a skirt. "You guys are packed out there, let me help. You'd do the same for me."
"Max, I'd do anything for you," she said in a small voice, staring at the floor.
He stroked her cheek, tenderly. "Me too."
Michael stuck his head out the door of the kitchen. "Come on you two… this food's not going to serve itself."
Liz sighed, grabbing Max's hand and led him back out onto the service floor.
* * *
Michael sat alone in his apartment after his grueling shift, thinking about Maria. He figured that she would come home with him that night, but she didn't. After the incident earlier with her outburst at the customer, Maria slipped comfortably back into her perky normal old self, even joking with him throughout the rest of the shift.
But then when it came time to go home, Maria clamed up again. In fact, she was half-way out the door with out saying good-bye when Michael caught up with her.
"Hey! Maria, wait!" he said following her out the front of the café. "I was hoping that you'd come over… you know… so we can talk."
She sighed, "We don't talk… we never talk. I'm just going to go home and get some rest. Orders from the Chief," Maria said, motioning in Liz's general direction.
"Well then… come over. You said that… you told me…" he was getting no response from her. "Never mind." Michael turned on his heel and returned to work.
So here he was… alone at home on a Friday night… thinking about a girl who didn't even want to give him the time of day anymore. He was just beginning to feel like a real loser when there was a knock at the door. He rushed aver to open it, pasting a goofy grin on his face.
"I knew that you…" Michael trailed off as he opened the door and realized that it was Max, not Maria.
Max knitted his eyebrows together, "What's with the stupid smile?"
He looked out past his friend, still expecting Maria to be there. "I thought that you were Maria."
"I thought she decided to go home and get some sleep?" the shorter of the teens made his way into the apartment.
"Yeah, but I really… Never mind. What are you doing here? I figured that you'd be out with Liz. It being 'Hot Date Friday Night' and all."
"Nope. It's 'Post Desert Sleep-over with Max Family Enforced Fun Night' at the Parker household." At the confused look on his friend's face, Max clarified. "Liz made the mistake of telling her mother that she didn't even know her… you know, when we were having those flashes… and well, Mrs. Parker decided as part of her punishment, that Liz should hang out with her parents one Friday night a month… probably for the rest of her life. They're also threatening a 'Get to Know Max' dinner, too."
"Ugh," Michael cringed. "Makes me glad that Maria denies to her mom the fact she even knows me half the time. So? What do you have in mind?"
"I figured that we could use some male bondage…. Uh, I mean male bonding," he held up the plastic bag from the video store. "You know… movie night!"
"Cool. What'd ya get?"
Max pulled out the video. "E.T. 'Elliott…. Phone home…'" he held up his index finger and used his power to light the tip, jut like the alien on the cover, and laughed.
Michael raised his eyebrow, silently complaining about the movie choice.
"Just kidding…" he waved his hand over the cover. "I thought that we could do some research tonight…" When he took his hand away, the movie case had changed and a picture of Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum stared back at them.
"'Earth Girls are Easy'! Yeah… a classic. Did you bring—"
Max pulled a bottle of caramel sauce, tobasco and a package of microwave popcorn out of the same bag. He tossed the package to Michael. "Pop it up, Space Boy."
He studied the directions for a moment, removed the cellophane, and placed a hand under and above the paper bag, concentrating on directing the heat molecules into the kernels. It was something the other two had been trying to teach him ever since he had moved out on his own. They both felt that it was time for him to learn to use his power effectively, especially now that Topolsky was out of the picture.
"And Michael… try not to burn the bottom kernels this time. It ruins the whole flavor for me."
Michael laughed, letting out the tense breath that he had been holding. His control over his power was erratic and they all never knew what would happen.
Max held the bottle of caramel sauce, heating it with a simple wave of his hand until it was a liquid consistency, then started to add enough tobasco to make any human gag.
As the bag in the other boy's hand grew bigger, he glanced nervously at his friend for a split second. "At least you had the decency not to mention the time I exploded the whole bag. I was picking shards of popcorn off the floor for a week." When the popping slowed, he shook the bag and then emptied it into a large tie-dyed looking ceramic bowl that Maria made for him.
Maria… the thought of her took the smile off of Michael's face.
"What?" Max asked, noticing the change in attitude of the other alien.
The three of them, Michael, Max and the huge bowl of popcorn, sat on the couch, sinking onto the worn cushions of the old thrift store purchase. "Nothing," he mumbled.
They put the tape in the VCR and watched it in silence for a while, until Max turned to Michael. "If you had that power, if you could make any human woman all crazy like that, who would you want?"
"Any woman? Easy! I'd want Pamela Anderson Lee."
Max choked on a piece of spicy caramel popcorn. "What?!"
"Yeah, I mean, she's this great actress — Did you ever see 'Barbed Wire'?" The dark haired teen shook his head, snickering. "Excellent movie…. And well, she runs. I love to watch her run. I think that I need a woman who can run a lot." His friend was now laughing uncontrollably. "Okay — I guess I would also use my mojo on Katie Holmes, you know, Joey from the creek WB show. How about you?"
"Liz… she's all I want," he said, calming down from his giggling fit. "Liz is my—"
Michael cut him off. "Liz is my soul mate," he said in a whiny voice. "How boring! Come on, Maxwell… you already have that power over Liz. Use your imagination. Someone you're never going to meet… someone famous — Hell, someone blonde with big—"
"Willow," Max blurted out.
A look of confusion crossed Michael's face. "The magical elfin guy from that movie? Um, that's a bit freakish—"
"No… WILLOW, Buffy's sidekick. The cute little redhead. I think it's the way she's smart and funny… just like—"
"Liz… she's my soul mate," Michael repeated in the same mocking tone as before.
"I don't sound like that… do I?"
"Yes," he said pointedly. "But good second choice."
They watched more of the movie quietly, until Michael turned back to his best friend. "So… I'm having problems with Maria."
"Yeah, I kinda noticed. What's up?" Max put a fistful of popcorn into his mouth.
"I don't know. Ever since Tuesday when Isabel… uh, went all beserker on her, she won't look me in the eye… or talk to me… or let me touch her. She's been avoiding me all week, not to mention she's irritable, continually tried, and… bitchy. Tell me how to fix this."
"We've been through this before, Michael. I can 't just tell you what to do and *POOF*, it's all better."
"Why not?" he asked innocently.
"Because…I just can't wave my arm and make your relationship better. What you have with Maria, you have to work on. I can't tell you how to fix every problem. You won't ever learn if I tell you what to do every single time, you need to do it yourself."
"Well at least give me some pointers… you and Liz got it all perfect, and that's all I want."
"Liz and I don't *have* it perfect. We *work* to get it perfect, and that's what you have to do. Besides, I thought that Maria said that she doesn't want what Liz and I have… she wants something different."
"Yeah," Michael said thoughtfully. "Well apparently now she doesn't even want me and her have anymore, either."
* * *
The dreams started again as soon as Maria's head touched the pillow. Instead of the shadow Michael and Isabel images that she was used to seeing, in this dream Maria was working at the Crashdown. She slipped into the day as if it had been scripted for her.
She walked past Liz at her table of obvious tourists, and could only laugh as she heard her best friend tell the two about how her grandmother took the fake alien picture at the crash site. Maria continued on to the two arguing men in the corner, offering them more coffee.
"Refill?"
"No, get outta here," the man on the right said gruffly.
Maria shook her head at his rudeness, but just walked back to the service station. Liz met her halfway.
"You are sooo bad girl. Oh, and Max Evans is staring at you again."
"No way," Liz said denying the idea was even possible. " Maria, that is so in your imagination."
They both glance over to the second booth at the far end of the restaurant where the two boys were sitting, and Max quickly averted his gaze once he realized that she was looking at him.
"Max Evans? This? No, un uh..it's not..."
Maria took Liz's face into her hands, "And with those cheeks! Preciosita tan linda!"
"Maria!!" she exclaimed, moving away from her friend, slightly blushing. "And, and even if it weren't I'm going out with Kyle. I mean, he's steady and loyal, and he appreciates me."
"Sounds like you're describing a poodle," she said matter-of-factly, walking back out toward her customers with a cup of coffee in each hand.
The general chatter of the CrashDown customers was interrupted when one of Maria's rude guys, the one in the black shirt who told her to go away only minutes earlier, shouted at the other and knocked the dishes aside. "....you ask me to give you another day!!?? You're running outta time."
Maria turned to her friend in a panic. "Liz!!"
"I want the money today. NOT tomorrow!!" yelled the taller man.
They both stood as the man with the flannel shirt pulled a gun out of his pocket and pointed it at the other. "You won't need it if you're dead!"
During the short struggle, everyone dropped to the floor. Everyone, except for Maria, who was too stunned to even move. A second later the gun went off, and the blonde felt fire rip through her midsection. The two men bolted for the door.
Liz jumped up from her place behind the counter to see if everyone was okay, "Maria…"
When Max popped his head out from beneath his booth, he heard Liz call out to Maria, noticing her prone body on the floor. He tried to move towards her, but Michael blocked his path.
"What are you doing? Let go of me," Max tried to shake free.
"You can't help her, Max. There's too many people around."
"Michael, I can't not help her. She's going to die."
"She's already dead, all you're going to accomplish is to get us captured. Besides, she's a human… We don't need her."
They watched from the sidelines as Liz held a thick cotton towel over the gaping hole in her best friend's stomach.
The customers, the tourists, no one knew what to do. "Someone help me, please. Oh God!" Tears streamed from her eyes. "There's so much blood here. Maria…? Can you hear me, Maria?"
As the life seeped out of the nearly unconscious teen and into the towel in Liz Parker's hand, Maria could not see the dozen or so strangers standing over her watching her bleed. She could only see the face of Michael Guerin. And she could not hear the panic pleas of her best friend, nor the approaching siren of the ambulance. She could only hear Michael's impassioned sentence of her death. "She's only a human… We don't need her…."
* * *
Maria gasped for air and sat up quickly, knocking aside the probing hands of Liz and a paramedic. In the blink of an eye, the CrashDown and everyone in it was gone, replaced by the darkened familiarity of her own bedroom. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, making her heart jump and she knew it was useless to try to get back to sleep. Careful not to wake her mother in the room down the hall, Maria pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. The teen left the house and went for a destination-less walk.
* * *
"Do you think it's weird that we're talking about this?" asked Michael. The two had long since given up trying to watch the movie, and instead concentrated on talking about their respective girlfriends.
"No. Why do you ask?"
"I just mean, a year ago we had nothing but ourselves — you, me, Isabel — and now we have girlfriends, kinda, and I no longer have to deal with Hank… and it's just real weird. Ever since that day you broke the rule… everything has changed."
Max placed his soda on the coffee table. "I don't regret saving her… breaking our rule…"
"I know you don't," he said, uncommonly understanding.
"If I ever had the chance to do it all over, I have to take the same path. Liz is my everything. I couldn't even imagine a life without her."
"I know, man. I know that me and Isabel give you a hard time about it all, but I understand that you did what you had to do that day. I respect you for it." Michael took a deep breath. "But don't go spreading that around to Iz, Maximillion. I don't want her to think I've gone all soft on her."
"Given the chance, Michael… that day, had it not been Liz… what would you have done?"
"You mean, if it were Maria that was shot instead?"
Max nodded. "Yeah." He paused. "Would you have saved her?"
Michael stared down at his hands, intently studying a scuff on one of his sliver rings. He ran his finger over the minuscule groove, and used his power to smooth the metal down.
"Honestly… no."
The dark haired teen looked sharply at his friend, hardly believing his answer. "You would just let her die?"
* * *
Maria had no clue how her walk ended her at Michael's apartment, nor why when she saw Max's jeep did she not just go knock on the front door and ask to be let in. Instead she came around to the side of the building, skulking outside one of the windows. She could her every word of their conversation clearly from her vantage point. Maria heard Max ask *the* question.
"Given the chance, Michael… that day, had it not been Liz… what would you have done? Would you have saved her?"
And then she heard Michael's answer, "No."
Maria felt like her whole world dropped from beneath her. In the instant she heard him say no, she could bear to hear no more. The girl immediately turned and ran. She ran until she found herself in Devou Park, miles from her home. Maria curled up on a park bench and tried to fall back asleep. Any dream, no matter how awful, had to be better than what she heard tonight.
* * *
Back at Michael's, Max was shocked at his friend's answer. "You would just let her die?"
Michael pursed his lips together, trying to gather his thoughts. "You didn't ask the question right. Back then… I - I would have let her die. She meant nothing to me then — only our survival meant anything to me then. But now… I would block the gunshot with my own body, rather than let her feel the pain of having a bullet pierce her skin."
Max looked at him in amazement. "She is sucking you in…" he said , slapping Michael's knee, "…and it's all for the good."
* * *
Saturday morning came and Maria was surprised to wake up on a rusty park bench, but then the memories of the night before flooded back to her. She sat up stretching, then started the long walk back to her house. Glancing at her watch, she realized that she was scheduled to work in less than two hours.
* * *
"You're late," Liz said, not looking up from her inventory sheet, once the blonde arrived at work. "Did you at least get some sleep—" she cut herself off when she finally glanced at her friend. "God, Maria… you look like you slept in a box behind Delgado's hardware store."
Maria massaged her stiff neck, trying to work out the kinks. "Park bench," she mumbled.
"What?"
"Never mind. Are the tables ready for lunch?"
"Yeah," Liz changed the subject. "How are things going with you and Michael? You never want to dish lately."
"Michael… he's every girl's dream," she said in a sarcastic tone.
The two girls moved out into the service area for one last check of the restaurant before they unlocked the door.
"Give him a chance, Maria. He seems to be trying."
"No matter what, he's never going to be the kind of guy that I want him to be, Liz… so maybe *I* should stop trying. He's always going to be Michael… silent, defensive… broody… Czechoslovakian…" //The guy who would let me die…//
"He is changing… I can see it from where I'm standing. Maybe you're too close to see the effort he's making."
"Maybe." Maria looked up to see Michael and Jose through the kitchen window. They were discussing the daily specials, she assumed, but he was staring at her, not the other cook. //Maybe Liz is right// she thought. //But I still heard what he said. Why would he say something like that if he didn't mean it?//
Maria walked to the back to get her apron and antennae tiara. She spun the lock and opened the door on her locker to find a single daisy resting on her stuff. The blonde squeezed her eyes shut and pinched her hand, not sure that this wasn't another dream. When she opened her eyes, the flower was still there, so she reached in to pick it up.
"Are you feeling better?" Michael's voice startled her out of her reverie. She slammed the locker door in surprise. "Sorry if I scared you."
"You didn't. Is this from you?" she asked, holding the daisy up.
"Yeah. Do you like it?"
"Daisies are my favorite," Maria whispered into the flower as she breathed in it's sweet scent.
"I know." She looked at him quizzically, so he continued in a rush. "The flashes… red sneakers, Dalmatian dog. I saw a whole lot of you that day, Maria… including daisies."
She smiled. "Thank you." Leaning in close, Maria wrapped her free hand around the back of Michael's head and pulled him to her for a kiss.
The instant their lips met, visions filled her head: The dream shadow Michael and Isabel, him watching her bleed to death on the cold tile floor, and finally the sound of his voice echoed through her mind… "She's only a human… We don't need her…" Maria pulled away sharply.
"What?" Michael gasped, disturbed by the break of contact. He stared at her, concerned.
"Nothing… I should help Liz finish the pre-shift."
He watched her walk away. "Okay… as long as nothing's wrong." She didn't answer.
* * *
Breakfast was slow as usual, but once noon came and passed, the CrashDown was hopping and all of the teens had no chance to worry about their problems.
Max and Alex sat in the first booth chatting and eating their food, when Liz stopped by to check on them.
"How's everything here guys?"
Max stroked her hand. "Better now," he smiled, making Liz blush. They both looked over at Alex as he started to make fake gagging sounds.
"Sorry… I thought we were going to see a repeat performance of my Will Smith burger." Liz playfully punched him on the arm. "Ow!"
"How's Maria doing?" Max asked, getting serious.
The three of them glanced in her direction. She was standing at the service window talking to Michael.
"She seems a bit better in spirit, but she looked like hell this morning. I'm beginning to wonder how much of what we're seeing now is just and act to make us stop asking her what's wrong."
In the blink of an eye, Maria and Michael's friendly conversation became loud. "JUST GIVE IT TO ME!" she said fiercely, trying to pull away the bowl in Michael's hand. Liz, Max and Alex watched as the bowl flew out of his hands and spilled all over the frail girl.
* * *
Maria walked over to the window and leaned in. "Michael?"
He looked up from the grill. "Yeah?"
"Table 6 claims that their Interstellar Chili is cold. Can you zap it?"
Michael glanced around nervously, making sure that Jose didn't hear. "Maria — shhhh. You know I can't—"
"I meant *microwave* it, Michael." She rolled her eyes.
"Oh." He took the bowl away and stuck it in the small microwave for two minutes. //Ha, ha… that'll teach em to complain!// he thought, going back to the grill to check on the other orders. When the microwave beeped, Michael looked over to the window to find Maria still there, staring at him like he was about to sprout an extra head.
"Wha—"
"Nothing," she shook her head. "Table 6 — chili?"
"Right. So are you coming over to my place after work?"
A hint of panic crossed Maria's face, though she quickly covered it. "No. I should go home tonight."
"Why? Come on, Maria. I really think that we should spend some time together."
"I can't talk about this right now. Just give me table 6's food, so I can get back to work, okay."
The expression on Michael's face turned mischievous. "I'll give you the chili when you promise you're coming home with me."
She reached through the window in an attempt to take the bowl out of his hands. "Michael, I am not going to play this game with you. Give me the food." He resisted. "JUST GIVE IT TO ME," she said loudly, tugging harder.
Noticing the attention they were gathering, Michael finally let go of the chili, ant the same time Maria made a final pull on it. The result was that the entire bowl of hot chili flew at the small blonde, spilling all over her arm and uniform. A scream of pain escaped her lips.
Liz ran over to her injured friend, pulling her into the back room. "Maria, are you okay?"
Michael ran out of the kitchen with a wet towel and approached the girls. "I'm sorry, Maria." He tried to wipe with chili off her arm, but she pulled away.
"Just don't!" she said harshly, through clenched teeth. Michael backed up, handing the towel to Liz.
The brunette wiped the chili away and gasped at the severe burns on Maria's arm. "What does your arm feel like?'
"Well let's see… it feels like… it feels like some moron dumped chili all over it." Michael shied away further. "And then there's this intense prickly burning sensation that you don't even want me to completely describe."
Liz wrapped the injured area with a clean, cool towel. "Michael, go get Max." She lad Maria over to the couch. "You're going to have to go to the hospital."
"What? No… No way. It's not that bad."
"Yes it is. That prickly feeling means there's some serious dermal damage. Your skin blistered on contact. That's bad."
"I'm fine. I'm not going to the hospital."
The guys entered the back room. "Max, can you take her to the ER?"
"I'm NOT going."
"Don't be stupid, Maria. You look like crap…" Alex started.
"Thanks, Alex. Boy, with friends like you—"
"You know what I mean, Maria."
Max moved over to her, carefully taking the towel away. "This is bad… but the hospital is not your only choice. I could heal it."
"NO!" Maria, Michael and Liz all said at the same time.
Alex was surprised. "Why can't he? That will be better than you going to the ER."
Liz spoke first. "He's right…"
"But?" Max prompted.
She stared at the floor. "But nothing. It's the best choice."
Max leaned in close to her. "I'm with you, Liz… I've always felt something for you, and my healing you had nothing to do with forming those feelings. I've always felt this way, and I always will."
Liz took advantage of his closeness, and kissed him. "I know."
The dark alien challenged the others. "So what's your issue?" he asked Michael and Maria.
"Nothing," they both mumbled.
Alex piped in. "I'll keep watch—"
"No. He's not doing anything," Maria said firmly.
"It's either Max or the hospital… you chose."
She sat silently contemplating her choices, visibly not liking either. "What about a hand print… that will be hard to hide on my arm."
"There won't be one. This isn't as serious as Liz's gunshot wound. There will be a small connection, then I can heal you. No evidence… no scars."
Maria took a deep breath. "Alex, watch the door."
"Yes, Ma'am." He dutifully moved over to cover both the dining room doorway and the kitchen doorway, calling into the kitchen. "Don't worry, Jose. She's fine… yeah — Michael will be back in a second… tell Jen to cover the floor until they come back…"
Max removed the towel, then gingerly touched the raw, blistered area on her arm. She winced slightly.
"Sorry."
"Just get it done, Max."
His breathing became labored and shallow as he connected with her.
**FLASH** Maria's reaction when Liz told her about Max being an alien.
**FLASH** A lone shadow figure standing in the distance, red eyes glowing.
**FLASH** Maria laying on the floor of the CrashDown, a pool of blood spreading out around her, a tear streaking down her cheek as Michael looks on, impassive.
After a moment, Max's eyes opened and he pulled his hand away from her arm revealing a fresh patch of new skin. Maria tenderly ran her fingers over the area.
"Thanks," she murmured quietly.
He grinned at her. "All part of the service…"
Maria's gaze flickered to her ruined uniform. "I don't suppose you do dry cleaning?" Max waved his hand over the stains and they disappeared. "We should get back, you know — the daily grind."
Liz stopped her. "We'll get back… you get to sleep."
"No! Come on, I'm fine now. Max fixed me."
He shook his head. "You *should* get some rest, Maria. It'll do you good."
"Great — my hero. Fine… I guess you guys are right," she stared to gather her stuff and moved towards the door.
"Use my room."
"My room will be acceptable, mother."
"Do me a favor, okay? It'll settle *my* nerves, if nothing else."
"Fine," she repeated. I'm off to bed."
"Michael, why don't you—"
"I KNOW where your room is, Liz."
"*My* nerves, Maria!"
"Right… whatever, Cyrano. Let's go, Michael."
* * *
Michael had no clue why Liz sent him up to her room with Maria, so he did the most manly thing he could think of… he checked the closets and bathroom for intruders.
"Who do you think is hiding up here, Michael? The Closet Monster?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"No," he replied, gruffly. "So do you want to talk about it?"
"The Closet Monster? Really, he's a closed subject… very hush-hush."
"The reason you've been so horrible to be around lately. You've been knocking into me all week, and that's if you even talk to me. What did I do? What's wrong with you?"
She shifted her eyes to study the carpet. "Nothing."
"Yeah? Well it's an awful lot of nothing from what I can see. Wanna try again?"
"Tell you what, Michael… why don't you leave me alone. Dr. Max has ordered me to get some sleep and I can't do that with you here."
He stormed towards the exit, an air of anger surrounding him. "Well that's not what you said a few days ago," Michael mumbled, pulling the door closed firmly behind him.
* * *
Liz finished closing up the café and said goodnight to Max and Michael, locking the front doors and lowering the shades. It had been about seven hours since she sent Maria upstairs, and the brunette hoped her best friend was able to get some rest.
She entered her room quietly, noting the peaceful, smooth breathing of Maria's sleep. Liz quietly crossed the room and climbed out onto the balcony, removing her journal from the secret place she hid it every night. Settling into the old lawn chair under the stars, Liz began to write about the day.
JOURNAL ENTRY:
::I'm really beginning to worry about Maria. She's acting so unlike her self it's creepy. It's weird… a few months ago, before all this happened with Max, I would wonder if she's doing drugs, or something like that, but now all I can wonder is: What if this is some strange side effect of her relationship with Michael? What if this happens to me in a few weeks or months… or tomorrow? And, am I always going to be this paranoid about things as long as I'm with Max?::
Liz pulled a crocheted throw that her grandmother made around her shoulders and sighed. The long, deep exhale of breath was interrupted though, by Maria's panicked shrieks inside the apartment.
"NO! WHY WON'T YOU SAVE ME!?! WHY ARE YOU GOING TO LET ME DIE?!?" she screamed, thrashing around.
The other girl ran back into the room. "Maria? MARIA! It's Liz… Wake up!"
***
To be continued….