"Listen, girl… There's something going on that you aren't telling me
"Listen, girl… There's something going on that you aren't telling me. Now spill." Maria leaned against her locker in the back room of the Crashdown. Her beautiful blue gaze was trained on Liz, who was pulling out her apron and antennae headband.
"Maria, there's nothing going on. Just the same things that always go on."
Maria rolled her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest giving Liz her no-nonsense look. "Oh right… I thought the on-off relationship was reserved for Michael and I. You look like Hell, and Max looks like someone killed his best friend. You are so not going out there until you tell me everything… and I mean everything."
Liz sighed finally meeting Maria's gaze, "I just think we should cool things off. I'm only seventeen, and I don't want to be tied down to one guy for the rest of my life."
"You know you are a horrible liar…"
"I know… Please, don't ask me anymore questions."
"Fine. I'll lay off for now, but that doesn't let you off the hook." Maria gave her a warning look before spinning on her heels. She headed out into the outer room, seeing a few customers walk into the café and take a booth.
"It's about time. I thought I was the only one working this joint." Michael grumbled, glaring at Maria and Liz from the back kitchen.
"If you call what you're doing work, Spaceboy." Maria arched her brow as she grabbed a few menus from the rack by the register.
"I work harder than you, DeLuca. It must be tough to walk around and flirt with the customers."
"What would you know about flirting? All you can do is sit and brood and make decisions without asking anyone else's opinions."
"Excuse me… We are in a place of business." Liz injected in her friends' heated argument. She had to stop it now before they were at each other's throats. They were definitely in an off period.
"Thank you for the news flash, Parker." Michael gave her a frosted look before disappearing from the window that connected the main room with the kitchen area. Maria rolled her eyes then walked over to the customers.
"Welcome to the Crashdown Café. Can I get you a drink while you decide on your order?"
"Uh… I'll have a large PlasmaBlast." The woman scanned the drink list, nodding as if satisfied with her order.
"One large PlasmaBlast coming up. And for you, sir?"
"Yeah, I'll take a ProtoBlast."
"Gotcha." She handed them each a menu then walked over to get their drinks. She poured the strawberry milkshake for the woman and a rootbeer float for her man, and then she brought them over to the couple. After they had received their order, Maria went over to the counter and flopped onto one of the stools.
She turned her head as someone entered into the café then gasped. Could that be Max? She couldn't believe it. He looked like a zombie out of a B movie. She slid off the stool and met him halfway, absently noting that Liz was nowhere in the vicinity. She was probably out back taking stock of the supplies.
"Goodness, Max. What the hell happened to you?"
"Good to see you too, Maria."
"Yeah, yeah… Now spill."
"Nothing… Just haven't had time to get fixed up."
"And I'm the Queen of England. What is going on between you and Liz?"
Maria looked up at him in concern, hating to see her friends in trouble. He was like a brother to her, and she was very protective of those she cared about. Max stared back at her and tried to fight the pull to unburden himself. It would be so easy, but he had to be strong. He was a leader and he had to act like one.
Maria watched the indecision on his face before it became guarded once more. Was this some kind of guy trait? Either that or he was learning from Michael… Men!
"Nothing… We're just friends. We're taking a break."
Maria snorted before throwing her hands up in the air. "What is wrong with everyone?! We're supposed to be a team, but I haven't seen us all acting like one. You and Liz are at odds with each other, although you won't admit it to anybody. Everyone else finds excuses to be away from each other… Are we just not friends anymore?"
Max was taken back by her vehemence. He hadn't even noticed that he rarely saw any of his other friends. He had been so self-involved, that he didn't pay attention to things around him.
"I don't know, Maria…"
"Well, I do. No one cares anymore. Let's just all forget about each other and pretend we never seen each other. Forget all the things we've done for each other and what we meant to each other…" Her eyes filled with tears, getting tired of trying to hold things together. She was tired of dealing with Michael's indifference and trying to remain cheerful. She gave a small sob and ran to the back room. What was to become of the team?