Maria had just finished her shift at the Crashdown when Liz approached her. Liz's eyes were troubled as she asked, "Maria, can I talk to you?"
Maria was worried because she knew it couldn't be good news the way Liz was acting right now. "Sure, Liz."
Liz led them to her room and closed the door. She looked at Maria and just steeled her nerve. "Oh, God, Maria. This is so hard. I don't want to tell you this but I have to. I'm sorry. I really am," Liz babbled.
"Okay, first of all, calm down! I can't hear a single thing you're saying. And second of all, why are you sorry?" Maria said, going over and putting her hands on Liz's shoulders to calm her down.
"For what I'm about to ask of you."
Maria backed away. She laughed nervously, "And what is that?"
"To give up Michael."
"What?!" Maria shrieked.
"Okay, I know this is really hard but listen to me," Liz could see that Maria was not paying attention. "Maria, Maria, look, blame me if you want but you have to listen to what I have to say!"
"Why?" Maria yelled. "Michael is actually staying here with me. He wants to be with me. Do you know how much I've dreamed of something like this, where Michael finally shows his love? Liz, why would you want me to give that up?!"
"Honey, calm down. Remember when Future Max came? He said that the reason why they all were defeated was because Tess wasn't with them and they needed her. They needed to complete the square. If Michael isn't with them, they won't defeat the Skins and they'll all die," Liz said in a rush.
"But you changed all that, didn't you?" Maria said, trying to find some hope somewhere.
Liz sadly shook her head. "What I did was only so that Tess would stay. It didn't have anything to do with Michael staying."
Maria sat still for a minute thinking of some way, any way for Michael to stay. Liz gently said, "Maria, you have to do what is right. Imagine the guilt Michael would feel if something were to happen to Max and Isabel."
Maria didn't say anything. There was nothing left to say.
~*~*~*~*Michael's apartment~*~*~*~*~*
Michael groaned as he heard a loud banging on his door. He glanced over at the clock and it glowed 2:15 AM. "This better be important or go away," he yelled at the door.
He blinked in surprise when he heard Maria's voice coming through, "Just put your pants on and open the door, Spaceboy."
He went over to the door and pulled it open. "Maria, what are you doing?"
Maria brushed past him and went inside. He stood there for a second and stepped back. "Please, come in," he said sarcastically.
"Cut the chit-chat. I have to talk to you," Maria said.
Michael folded his arms and put on his 'I'm waiting' face. Maria turned her back and said, "I want you to go."
"Go? Maria, this is my apartment and I'm not go…" Michael began indignantly.
"God, you are so dense sometimes!" Maria exploded. "I want you to go back to your planet with Max and Isabel."
"What?! Maria, what are you talking about?" Michael exclaimed. When Maria didn't answer him, he went over to her and forced her to turn around. When he did, he saw her eyes were red from crying and that tears were still coming down her face. "What is it? Why?" he worriedly asked.
Maria almost lost her nerve, but she knew what she had to do. "Where's my cedar oil?" she rummaged around, trying to delay the inevitable.
"Forget the oil and tell me what you're talking about!" Michael roared.
"Alright, alright! You remember the book Tess had last year? The one with your whole destiny written in it?"
"Yeah."
"The others won't defeat the Skins unless you're there with them. You need that little four-square thingy to win."
"How do you know?"
"Women's intuition. What does it matter, Michael? You have to go with them."
Michael was at a loss for words. Confused, he said, "But, Maria, don't you want…"
"You to be with me forever? You to stay with me? Yes. I do. But… this … you're life… what you're meant for. That's more important right now."
"Maria, I don't want to leave you."
Both their eyes were somber as they looked at each other. Maria moved into his arms and said, "But you will. Promise you'll come back to me?"
Michael tightened his arms protectively and said, "Promise."
I know this is kinda short but I had to stop this part here. The next part will be the departure, I think. It probably won't be too long either, just to warn you. I hope you guys liked this part also, even if it was sad. I'm sorry, I wasn't going to send Michael but I had to when someone brought up the four-square thing. *ugh* Stupid destiny. :-) Thanks for all the feedback! I was so overwhelmed with all the responses!!!! It was very kind of all you guys and if you don't mind, could you leave some for this part also!! Thanks!
BTW, I thought I should say again that I am a Dreamer and that there will be a happy ending for all; Dreamers, Candygirls, and Stargazers. Yes, maybe even Lamptrimmers (Rebounders) but I'm not too sure yet. I'm not in a very sympathetic-Tess mood right now. Sorry!