Title: Maybe
Author: Terri
Part 2
Maria had left Roswell 2 days ago, she had managed to find a job as a waitress at a local diner, it was close to where she had rented an apartment, it was dingy but it was in her price range, when she moved in she met Sarah, she lived next door to her, Sarah was also the one to tell her about the job.
It was hectic in the diner, she didn't mind, it kept her from thinking of him. She watched Sarah talking to a customer, she laughed at something he said, as she turned her eyes were sparkling, Maria's eyes hadn't shone like that in a long time, Maria smiled as Sarah came up to her, "hey, see that cute guy I was talking to, he's called Tony and he's asked me to go to a party tonight, I told him I would but only if it's okay to bring you along, so you'll come, won't you?" "Oh Sarah, I'm not good company just now, I don't think.." "Don't think, just come, give it an hour, if you still don't want to be there, you can leave, please Maria, we'll have a blast." Maria thought to herself, why not, a week ago she would have jumped at the chance to go to a party, how am I supposed to find myself if I don't look? "Okay, why the hell not."
Maria contemplated what she was going to wear, she hadn't brought many clothes with her, she had a black skirt and a white halter neck top, she looked at herself in the mirror, well it'll just have to do, she decided to keep her down, it fell with soft curls around her shoulders, sprayed a little perfume, and waited for Sarah to come.
Sarah looked at Maria "wow, you look amazing, just don't forget the guy asked me out, don't try to steal him okay." "Sarah you look stunning, you've got nothing to worry about, he'll take one look at you and be bowled over." "Thanks Maria." They heard a car horn blast, and went to the window to see if it was Tony, Sarah squealed, "it's him, come on, lets go," Maria hung back a little, "Sarah I don't know if I should, I don't know if I'm ready yet." Sarah took hold of Maria's arm and dragged her out of the apartment, "how do you know if you're not ready unless you try? Now come on."
Tony smiled and held the door open for them, they sat in the back seat, that was when Maria noticed the other guy in the front seat, Tony introduced him as Mark, he turned to Maria and looked at her, and smiled, Maria looked at him and she shrank back a little into the seat, there was a look in her eyes that scared her, she wanted to tell Tony to stop the car. Sarah didn't notice how Maria reacted to Mark, "so Tony where's the party at?" "It's at the frat house on campus." When they arrived the party was in full swing, people were dancing and drinking, and already couples were making out. Maria turned to were Sarah and Tony had been but they were nowhere to be seen, Mark was still there though and he leered at her, she shuddered, she walked into the kitchen area where the drinks were, Mark leaned towards her and spoke in her ear, "so what do you want a beer?" "No thanks, do they have any soda." "Soda, your kidding, this is a party." "Look Mark, if there's no soda then I'll just have water okay," Mark held his hands up, he didn't look too happy, as he walked away he mumbled something under his breath, he returned with some Pepsi.
Maria walked back to where the music was, she tried to find Sarah, god she didn't want to be here, she wanted to be with this creep, she wanted to be anywhere else but here, she wanted to be with Michael. Mark tried to talk with her but she kept answering with a yes or no she didn't want anything to do with him, she kept looking around her trying to find Sarah, then she spotted her going up stairs with Tony, Mark noticed the same thing as Maria, he draped his arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear, "so are you up for it? My room is up there too." Maria shrugged his arm off her, "I don't think so buddy, keep your hands to yourself," "god your such a stuck up bitch." "Is that right, well I think that's my cue to leave, when you see Sarah let her know I'll see her tomorrow."
Maria walked out, she didn't have enough money for a taxi so she began the walk back, it was only about three miles to her apartment, she walked about ten minutes when there was a clap of thunder and the rain poured down, she was soaked immediately. A car slowed down next to her, she kept her head down and kept walking, then she heard her name being called, she turned and saw Mark, "Mark, what do you want? Look I'm not interested, just leave me alone." "Maria, I'm sorry about what I said back there, listen, your soaked, why don't I just drive you home, and we'll just go our separate ways, alright." Maria looked down at herself, she was drenched and she was tired, what harm would it do to accept. "Okay."
They drove for a few minutes when Maria noticed that they were going a different way back to the apartment, "Mark you're going the wrong way," "it's okay, it's a shortcut back," Ten minutes later and they still hadn't arrived at her apartment, when Mark stopped the car Maria looked around and saw only blackness, she was getting worried, "Mark why have we stopped?" Mark turned around in his seat to look at her, he had a wild look in his eyes. "Please Mark, I want to go home, please take me home." Mark slapped her face, she tried to open the door but it was locked, she felt her hair being pulled and then her face was slammed into the door, everything went black.
Maria felt something rough under her, she was on the ground, and her head was pounding and felt sticky, she put her hand up to her face, she looked at her hand and saw blood, she tried to stand, she couldn't move, she heard a noise that sounded like a laugh, she saw him, he was coming towards her, why couldn't she move, she tried to scream, but no sound came from her mouth, Mark knelt down beside her and she felt his hand sliding up her leg, it stopped and suddenly he ripped her top off her, she closed her eyes, her mind screamed…….MICHAEL HELP ME ……
Miles away, Michael sat upright in bed, and screamed ……MARIA!!
TBC