CHAPTER 20
The next few days passed interminably for Maria. She got up, went to school and sat through class, her mind only half on what the teachers were saying. The rest of her mind was usually on Michael and the upcoming dreamwalk. It wasn't helped by his sudden devotion to dogging her footsteps. Suddenly, she could almost always feel him nearby. She didn't necessarily see him, but she knew he was there. The only time she was really able to focus on things was at rehearsal. After his unexpected appearance there on Wednesday, Michael hadn't shown back up in the auditorium. Alex had said he was probably in the shop room, working on building the plants, but who knew for sure? She'd gotten so used to feeling Michael around at unexpected moments; now she found she missed that little tingle during play practice.
She'd even had the feeling he was nearby when she woke up this morning, but when she peered out her window, there was no one to be seen. By the time she'd started her double shift at the Crashdown, the feeling had disappeared.
Sighing, she carried a tray of burgers over to a table and served them with a smile. Heading back to the counter, she asked Alex if he wanted another refill on his drink. Filling his glass, she placed it back in front of him and asked suspiciously, "Okay, Alex. What's going on? It's now 4:37, and you've been here since I came on duty at 11:00. When Isabel and Max left after lunch, how come you stayed on?"
He looked at her calmly and said, "I'm just killing time until Liz finishes her shift."
"Oh," she said, somewhat mollified. "She gets off at 5:00."
"I know. We're going to head over to Isabel and Max's. Get things ready for tonight."
Maria nodded. "I wish this day would hurry up and end. I'll be over there as soon as I can after we close up."
"You're driving, right?"
"No, my mom needed the car today," she began.
Alex said sternly, "Well, you shouldn't be walking around town by yourself at night. Not when there's someone out there who doesn't seem to like you."
"Hey, I never said I was walking. I already talked to Isabel; I'll give her a call when I'm done and she'll come pick me up," Maria said before she turned around in response to José's bell. "Got to go. More food to serve."
About forty minutes later, Liz, now dressed in street clothes, headed over to the counter where Maria was preparing an Alien Blast. "I'm off," she announced. "You ready, Alex?"
The teen took one last sip of his root beer before climbing off the stool and joining Liz. He reached into his pocket for his wallet, but Liz forestalled him with a smile. "It's on the house, Alex."
"Thanks," he said. Turning to Maria, he said, "We'll see you later. Be careful, all right?"
She snorted. "And what exactly could happen to me here? What, do you think the alien decorations are going to come to life and abduct me?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I foresee," he joked. "Only it'll only be one. And she'll be driving a Jeep. You can expect her in about six hours."
She pretended to threaten him with the milkshake glass she was holding, and he ducked behind Liz in mock fear. Liz shook her head and pulled him out of the café. Maria laughed at their antics and watched them go.
They hadn't been out of her sight for three minutes when Maria felt it again. Michael was around. She didn't see him, of course, but she knew he was nearby. For a moment she was pleased, but then she began to contemplate the strangeness of the situation. Why did he persist on being near her, but just out of sight? He knew she could feel him; was he purposely trying to annoy her, or what? As she served the milkshake, her mind was busy working. Forget whoever was sending her the notes, she already had a stalker. He was around all the time. She could swear he was even somewhere near her house at night. Well, most of the time, and when he wasn't, Alex--
She stopped dead in her tracks. Whenever Michael wasn't around, Alex was. What was going on? Her mind flashed to the notes she'd gotten. Alex knew about them, but Michael didn't. Well, the sketch, yes, but not the other note or her fall down the stairs. And Alex wouldn't have broken his promise and told him about it, she was sure of it. She ground her teeth. On top of everything else, it looked like she was going to have to have a little talk with those two...
The next six hours or so didn't pass any more quickly than the preceding two and a half days, but finally the restaurant was closed and Maria could change out of her uniform. She jumped when a knock came on the back door, but relaxed as she heard Isabel call, "Maria? Are you ready?" Grabbing the things she'd packed for overnight, she hurried to the door and swung it open, greeting Isabel. She followed the taller girl to the nearby Jeep and threw her things into the back, but didn't climb in.
"Maria, I can't drive you anyplace if you don't get in the Jeep," Isabel pointed out.
"Just a minute," Maria insisted, and then raised her voice. "Michael? We're leaving now. If you want a ride, you'd better make an appearance."
There was no movement in the alleyway, and she huffed, "I know you're there; I can feel it, remember?" Another moment of silence, with Isabel eyeing her appraisingly. Then a figure detached itself from the shadows in the corner and wordlessly climbed into the back seat.
"Hello to you, too, Michael," said Isabel, turning in the driver's seat to look at him. He gave a grunt in reply. "Need a ride to your place?"
"Oh, no," insisted Maria as she got in. "He agreed to this dreamwalk, and I am going to make sure he does it. He can sleep just as well in Max's room as he can on that lumpy old couch of his."
Isabel looked at him in the rearview mirror. When he didn't say anything, she shrugged and started the Jeep for a quick--and very silent--trip back to the Evanses'.
Max, Alex and Liz were waiting in the family room for their arrival. They seemed surprised when the girls entered with Michael in tow, but saw the determined look on Maria's face and didn't comment.
"Okay, let's get started," Maria ordered. "Michael, go to sleep." He looked silently at her for a few moments, then around the room resignedly.
Max took pity on him. "Give him a little time, Maria. We don't have to be in such a hurry." She opened her mouth to protest, but he went on, "Hungry, Michael?"
The spiky-haired alien growled, "No. Let's get this over with."
"Aha!" cried Maria triumphantly, almost dancing in place. "See, Max? He's tired. He's wants to go to sleep."
Michael looked at her in disbelief and shook his head slightly, but turned his attention back to Max when he spoke. "Why don't you crash in my room?" Max suggested. "The rest of us will be in Isabel's, so you can use the bed instead of the sleeping bag." With an abrupt nod, Michael headed out of the room.
The others sat down, Maria glancing repeatedly at the doorway where Michael had disappeared.
"Give the guy a break," Alex said. "You don't just fall asleep on command."
"I know that," she shot back. "I'm just anxious, that's all."
Isabel decided to play hostess. "Why don't we head into the kitchen and get a snack? We can watch TV or something for a while. Relax until he's asleep."
The others agreed, and followed her from the room. They settled back down a little while later, with drinks and munchies in hand. Max turned on the TV with its sound down low and idly flipped through the channels.
"Warm milk!" said Maria suddenly. "My mom always used to make me warm milk when I couldn't sleep. I'd be out like a light. Let's make some for Michael."
"My mom does that, too," mused Alex. "But she puts a shot of brandy in hers."
"We do not want to give Michael any brandy," warned Isabel. "We can't handle alcohol, remember?"
Everyone looked at Max, who reddened and then spoke. "It's only been fifteen minutes, anyway. Give him a chance. He's not used to sleeping this early."
"It's almost 11:30. That was about when we dreamwalked him the first time," commented Alex. "And somehow I don't think he's gotten a whole lot of sleep since then, either. He still looks beat."
Maria muttered something unintelligible under her breath. Of course Michael looked beat. He was hanging around her house at all hours of the night, wasn't he? Setting her glass down with a thump on one of Mrs. Evans's coasters, she said, "I'll be back in a minute," and headed out of the room.
"She's probably just gone to get some air," she heard Liz say as she headed to the door. Liz knew her so well. Sitting on the front stoop, she looked up at the night sky. She'd never really studied it, not before finding out about Max, Michael and Isabel; but since then she'd spent many hours staring up and wondering. About their home, about where they'd come from, about the family Michael had once had. As much as it scared her that the three of them would leave, it gave her comfort, too, knowing how much Michael needed to know where he belonged. And as much as she wanted him with her, she knew that he had to find that place, a place where he was at home. Content. Where he could allow himself to love someone, and be loved back. But first he needed to be whole again...
Sighing, she took one last look at the stars and headed quietly back inside. Ignoring the voices coming from the family room, she moved towards Max's room, trying not to make a sound. She'd just peek in on him and see how he was doing.
Reaching the door, she put her ear against it, listening. No sound from within. She reached out and eased the door open a crack. Just enough light filtered in from the hall to allow her to make out the still form on the bed. He'd taken his shoes off and lain back, his hands folded across his stomach. He didn't move. Silently she moved to the foot of the bed, picking up the quilt that was folded across it and draping it over him, tucking it gently under his chin as she used to do with her dolls.
"I'd have a better chance of falling asleep if you'd stop bugging me," he informed her dryly, his eyes still closed. "Go sniff some oil or something and leave me alone."
She flushed. "How did you know it was me?"
"I've slept in Max's room a lot, and believe me, he isn't the tucking-in type."
"But I could've been Isabel, or Liz."
"But you weren't."
"But--"
He opened his eyes and narrowed them at her. "If you want me to be able to do this, then go away," he said coldly. Biting her lip, she moved to the doorway, looking back to see his eyes once more closed. She shut the door softly behind her, smiling softly. He might not have been aware of it, but he'd clutched the blanket she'd placed over him as if he'd never been tucked in before. Well, maybe he hadn't. A sad expression crossed her face. "Sweet dreams," she whispered, and then headed back down the hall.
TBC...