Max was worried. Sitting in Maria's driveway, he thought for a second on what to do. Usually, he would drive to her house every morning and honk the horn. About a minute later, Maria would run out of the door and they would go to school. Because of the present tension between the group, Isabel would take their Mom's car and pick up Alex and Tess. No one knew how Michael got to school, just that he did.
But today was going a little differently. He had been sitting in Maria's driveway for about ten minutes and she was showing no signs of appearing. She, knowing herself, had given Max a key at the beginning of their arrangement in case she overslept. He was to go inside, start some tea, and wake her sleeping ass up, to use her words. Having only done it once, he was hesitant. The first time wasn't pretty. Maria was not a morning person. In the back of his mind, he sincerely hoped she was wearing clothes this time.
Just as Max got out of his car, the Sheriff's SUV pulled in behind him.
Valenti lumbered out of the sport utility vehicle and spoke in a hushed tone. "Max, what are you doing here? Is something wrong with Maria?"
"Not that I know of. She's just late for school so I was gonna go wake her up. Is something going on that I should know about?" He was staring to get anxious.
"I, uh, oh God, I don't know how to say this." He stuttered out.
"What? What is it?"
"Um Amy, Maria's mom, has been out of town for the last few days and this morning I got a call. She was in a car accident on the way to a business owner's convention. Jesus Max, she's dead!
"Dead… oh my God!" the very thought was inconceivable to him. "What about Maria? She won't be able to handle this. What will happen to her?"
Valenti wiped a hand over his tired face. "I have no idea. We'll have to work that out later. But damn, no child should have to hear this at such a young age. I don't even know how to tell her!"
"I'm gonna stay with you to tell her. She's gonna need support to get through this. Maybe I'll get everyone over here."
"Not yet. Let's just go tell her."
The two solemn men walked up to her door and rang the bell. When nobody answered, they rang again, then began to beat on the door.
Valenti started to shout, "Maria, wake up! It's important! I really need to talk to you! Please answer the door!"
Finally the door was opened with an abrupt yank. "What the hell are you doing at my door so early, Sheriff? You so just woke me up from the best dream! Oh, hey Max. Damn did I over sleep the alarm? I must not have turned it on last night." Heat rushed to her cheeks as she remembered exactly what had happened last night. "Why didn't you call?"
Max looked slightly exasperated. "I did. Several times. You didn't answer. Anyway, do you need me to start some tea?"
"Yeah, that would be great." Rubbing her eyes with the palm of her hands, she beckoned for them to follow. "Come in, Sheriff, Max."
Sheriff Valenti took off his hat and let Max slip past his to the kitchen. "Uh, Ms. DeLuca, Maria, I'm afraid this isn't a social call…"
"With all due respect, when is it ever?" she retorted, rolling her eyes.
He winced then continued. "Maria, I am so sorry about this. Damn, there's no easy way to put this. Your mother…she…uh…"
"God, she's not in jail is she? She is such a reckless driver. Was she going like thirty miles over the speed limit or something? Do I need to bail her out?"
Max returned with a jumbo cup of tea and handed it to her, cutting off the Sheriff. "Maria, maybe we should sit down."
"You guys are starting to scare me. Just get it out! What's wrong with my mom?" The beginnings of hysteria were evident in her voice.
Valenti watched the whole scene from the point of a father. God, I hope Kyle never has to get this talk.
"She…uh…was involved in a car accident on the way to that convention she was going to go see. She was…uh…hurt pretty bad…and uh…she didn't make it." He watched as she crumbled and prayed for the little girl she would no longer be.
Maria's eyes darted wildly between the two faces in the room. The gravity of the situation hit her and she fell to her knees. "Oh my God! You're lying! It's not true! She would never leave me alone like this! She promised!" Her voice cracked and she started to sob.
"Maria, what is going on? What the hell are they doing here?" Michael's voice was heard coming down the hallway. He got the surprise of his life as he walked into the kitchen to see Max and Sheriff Valenti standing over his broken girlfriend.
Max drew back at the sight of the fellow alien. Michael was distinctly sleep rustled. His hair was standing up in all directions and there were blanket creases all over his arms and chest, which was peeking out from behind his undershirt. "Michael, why are you here?"
Valenti knew the pressure was building. "Guys, this isn't the time or the place of this!"
Maria, her body still raking with sobs and her face still drenched with tears, raised her head. "How long ago was it…that she…"
"About four hours ago. She was in surgery all night but she just didn't make it out." The Sheriff paused. "I am so sorry."
Michael was getting scared. He knew something terrible had just happened, someone important to Maria had died. Who? "Maria, who are they talking about?"
Blurry eyes were turned to him. "My mom! Oh God, Michael, my mom's dead! She's dead!"
Kneeling on his knees beside her, he lifted her body to press it against his. "Oh Maria, baby, it will be okay. Everything will be okay. I'll take care of you. We'll get through this."
With those words, Max knew something significant in the lives of his friends had happened last night. A bond, a closeness had been formed between the two of them. It was as if they both just stopped trying to hurt themselves and went to each other. Max watched as Michael picked up Maria and sat her on the couch, taking her close to comfort her. He watched as Maria wrapped her arms around Michael's neck and wept onto his shoulder with such intensity that it shook both their bodies. He watched as Michael murmured sweet nothings into her ear, trying to sooth her turmoil. What the hell happened? He thought to himself. Oh shit, I hope they didn't have sex!
With Maria still sobbing, Michael looked up to Valenti with questions in his eyes.
"What will she do now? What's gonna happen to her?" he demanded.
Valenti looked the teen straight in the eyes and saw true concern. "She'll have to find some place to live. At seventeen, she's still a minor and she can't stay on her own."
Max cut in, "She can stay with Isabel and I. We wouldn't mind and our parents would completely understand."
"No!" she screamed. "I'll stay with Michael.
"But Maria…" Max exclaimed.
"Legally, you can do that, Maria, but it's your decision." Valenti explained.
Michael was still shocked, "You really want to stay with me?"
"You know I do, Michael, you're the only person I want to live with right now. I know you understand." Maria looked pleadingly into his eyes.
The Sheriff decided to stop this before Max exploded. Thinking to himself, he concurred that the technical path was best. "Okay, now that that's settled, you can get your stuff and I'll drive you to Michael's. Take the day off and just relax, okay honey. Michael, you stay with her, too. She'll need someone. I'll take care of the paperwork and bring it by later." Turning toward the door, he secured his hat on his head. "Take care of yourself. I'll be outside."
"Okay, now that he's gone, what the hell is going on between you two?" Max took a deep breath then let it out slowly. "You didn't have sex, did you?"
Michael exploded. "Max, what's wrong with you? Her mom just died and you can't wait to jump into "leader" mode and interrogate everyone. Leave her alone!"
"Stop it! Just stop it! First of all, it's none of your business. Second, no we didn't, and third…Max, I know you're just looking out for me, but I'm gonna be okay. Just give me some time." Pulling herself together for him she pasted a tiny smile to her face. "Go to school, tell everyone, and let me grieve for a while. Thank you for caring so much, though. Now go."
Max put a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a quick hug. "Okay, but take care of yourself. Michael, watch out for her."
"I will. Thanks, man."
"Any time. See ya."