CHAPTER 25
Sighing, Maria remained in her seat after the bell rang to signal the end of class. She was in no hurry to go to History today. It had been hard enough facing Michael in English this morning, and he hadn't even looked at her. She didn't know if she could handle his closed-off, emotionless demeanor again, not after everything they'd been through on Saturday night.
After he'd left the Evanses' house, the five of them had sat, silent, each enmeshed in thought. Finally, Isabel had shepherded them all to bed, but Maria had slept fitfully for the short time that she was actually able to rest. It was only due to her physical and emotional exhaustion that she was able to get as much sleep as she did. Sunday night hadn't been much better, but at least she had been in the familiar comfort of her own room.
Although Liz had tried to cheer her during their mutual shift at the Crashdown on Sunday afternoon, she hadn't really known what to say. Nor had Maria, who got through the day pretty much on auto-pilot, smiling mechanically at the customers and trying to avoid thinking about anything, much less feeling.
She'd wakened on Monday morning with the same listless feeling and was immediately sent back to bed by a concerned Amy. A day of lying in bed staring at the ceiling hadn't helped much, and her mom had looked troubled as she'd given her daughter a tight hug before Maria left for school this morning. Maria held on to that hug as best she could during the day, but its simple comfort had long since faded.
As students began to enter the room for the next class, Maria reluctantly gathered her possessions. In the hall, she briefly considered bailing on History, but knew that the ramifications of cutting class could have a bad effect not only on her grade but also on what little free time she had. Her mother would certainly not be too happy to deal with a truant daughter, and Maria didn't feel up to the parental 'discussion' that would ensue if Amy found out.
She made it to class just before the bell rang, and Mrs. Lyons watched her as she made her morose way to her desk and sat down. Carefully not looking in Michael's direction, she opened her notebook and stared numbly down at it.
Mrs. Lyons broke through Maria's distraction a few minutes later. "Maria?" she heard, and looked up to realize that all the eyes in the room--save one pair--were plastered on her. A titter arose from behind her, and she frantically tried to recall what the teacher had just said.
"Perhaps if you paid attention, you would be able to add something to our discussion," Mrs. Lyons said sternly. Maria colored and nodded. Trying to focus on the remainder of the lecture, she didn't notice Michael giving her a very speculative--although somewhat distracted--look. The rest of the class period passed much more quickly, and Maria was able to at least give the pretense that she was following Mrs. Lyons's every word.
Heading to her locker after class, she found Alex waiting for her. "Hi, Alex," she said in a wan tone, giving him an emotional smile. "What's up?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Alex returned steadily. "You weren't in school yesterday, and you wouldn't answer the phone. Your mom told Liz you weren't feeling well." He looked at her in concern. "You holding up okay?"
She shook her head numbly. "Not really. But I don't have much choice, do I? I have to get on with my life, just like everything was fine. Or normal. Or something."
Alex studied her for a moment, then asked, "So in this so-called normal life of yours, are you working tonight?"
"Yeah. I get to deal with all the worn-out trick-or-treaters," she said without enthusiasm. "Just another incredibly stimulating evening in Roswell, New Mexico. Happy, happy Halloween."
"Actually, I was thinking about heading over to the Crashdown this evening myself," Alex commented. "My mom's decided to go all out for Halloween this year, and I don't think I can deal with seeing her hand out candy dressed as a French maid."
The corners of Maria's mouth lifted fractionally. "You're kidding."
"Nope."
"That's actually kind of frightening."
Alex nodded ruefully before continuing, "So I'll see you tonight, okay?"
Maria paused, then said carefully, "Are you sure avoiding trick-or-treaters is your only reason for hanging at the Crashdown?"
"I don't know what you mean," he said, an innocent look on his face. She wasn't buying it.
Eyeing him with suspicion, she said, "So you're back on stalking duty? I thought that the forty-eight hours with no baby-sitter and no Michael lurking in the vicinity was too good to be true."
He pounced on her offhand comment. "What do you mean, no Michael?"
"I mean that the past two days were the first in weeks that I haven't constantly either seen you or felt him around. I figured you were backing off." He looked troubled by this. "Why? Wasn't that the plan?"
He swallowed. "I don't think so."
"Look, Alex, I know you promised not to tell me what you two are up to, and Michael's certainly not talking. But I'm not going to blindly sit back and act like I don't know you guys are there, either. You're a little too obvious. Well," she mused, "Michael wouldn't be, if I couldn't sense him. He's actually pretty good at lurking." She looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. "A really useful talent there. Anyway, if it's so important that I have a baby-sitter around, why the sudden change of heart? I was home all day yesterday, while you were both in school, and I didn't--"
He interrupted her. "We weren't both in school. I mean, I was, but Michael wasn't. I figured he was lurking over at your place."
"I don't think so. I would've felt it," she answered slowly. "No Michael vibe."
"That's...odd," he said. Well, he wasn't going to give up the watch, especially if Michael was slacking off. After all, it was the boneheaded alien's idea in the first place. It looked like he needed to have a chat with the elusive Mr. Guerin. "I'll go to the Crashdown with you now," he decided. "You driving?"
She shook her head. "Mom needed the car again."
"Okay, we'll walk. Let me run by my locker and we'll head out," he suggested, and then paused as he caught sight of a tall blonde moving down the hallway. "On second thought, wait right here," he ordered, and moved to intercept Isabel before she got too near. Maria bit down her protest at his abrupt command, and watched curiously as Alex spoke with Isabel. They were just far enough away that she couldn't overhear their conversation.
"Isabel. What are you doing this afternoon?" demanded Alex unceremoniously.
"Hello to you too, Alex."
"Sorry," he threw back, then repeated, "What are you doing this afternoon?"
"I was going to the library to do some research for my term paper, then home to help Mom get ready for the trick-or-treaters. She's really into it this year."
"She's not by any chance dressing up like a French maid, is she?" he asked, momentarily distracted.
"What?"
"Never mind. Anyway, I need you to do me a favor."
She didn't hesitate. "Of course. What?"
"I need you to go with Maria to the Crashdown and stay with her until I get there."
"Okay," she responded immediately, but added, "Why? What's going on?"
"I can't tell you that," he admitted.
"Is this back to your promise to Michael?" she demanded. At his hesitant shrug, she threw up her hands and burst out, "I swear that if he were himself, I would kill him." Alex didn't respond and she went on, "I know, I know. Fine, I'll take Maria and stay with her, and I won't ask any more questions. For now, at least. But we all need to talk, and soon."
Alex nodded. "You're right, we do." They began to move towards Maria, who was leaning against her locker, waiting impatiently. As a sudden afterthought, Alex added, "And Isabel? Keep your eyes peeled, okay?"
"Why? What am I watching for?" the tall blonde asked curiously.
"I don't really know," he admitted. "Just anything...unusual."
She studied him for a moment, but seemed to find an answer of some sort in his face. "Okay," she answered with a nod.
"Thanks," he said gratefully.
Smiling, she quoted his response from the night of the first dreamwalk into Michael-land. "Any time, Alex. Any time."
Fidgeting nervously, Maria watched them approach. As they neared, she looked up at one and then the other. Alex smiled gently down at her.
"You're in luck," he said with a grin. "Isabel's got the Jeep, and she'll drive you to work."
Maria looked at him, suspicion on her face. "And I suppose she's the stalker of the day? The dynamic duo is now a trio?" she said tiredly.
"I'm just in the mood for something fattening. With lots of Tabasco sauce," put in Isabel cheerily.
"You can't fool me," Maria shot back. "You've been roped into baby-sitting detail for some reason that only Michael knows." With a sigh, she pushed herself away from her locker. "Okay. Let's go."
Alex watched them leave and then set off purposefully in the other direction. Now to find Michael, and determine just why he'd seemingly given up on his own plan to protect Maria.
Four and a half hours later, Alex entered the Crashdown, which was still busy with the dinner rush. Isabel was sitting by herself in a booth, calm in the midst of chaos, gracefully flipping through the pages of a fashion magazine. "About time you got here," she commented. "I've read this thing three times."
"I might as well have been here instead," Alex answered grumpily. "I didn't accomplish anything." He slid into the booth, sitting opposite her.
Isabel watched him curiously. "What were you trying to do?" she asked.
"Talk to Michael. But I couldn't find him."
Isabel looked concerned. "He's been impossible to track down since Saturday night, and believe me, Max and I have tried. He wasn't in school at all yesterday, and he didn't answer the phone."
"He was back today."
Frowning, Isabel corrected him. "He may have been there in body, but he wasn't in mind. He was...distant. Even more than he's been since the...split. It was as if he were paying attention to something nobody else could see. I'm worried about him."
Alex leaned on the table and stared down, lost in thought. Eventually, Isabel broke in and changed the subject. "Well, it seems like my evening was as much a waste as yours." She gestured over to where Maria was serving a tray of burgers to a famished-looking group of teenagers. "I watched her, but nothing unusual happened."
"That's good," said Alex, forcing a smile into his voice.
"Well, now you're here, I guess I'll head home," Isabel decided. "Maybe I can still help my mom with some late trick-or-treaters."
Alex felt a twinge of guilt. "Sorry I made you miss it."
"It's okay, Alex. Mom will understand. She always does." Smiling, she slid out of the booth. "You get back to watching Maria. Max and I will concentrate on talking to Michael. We'll get through to him somehow."
Alex wanted to believe her, but had doubts. "What if you can't?" he asked softly.
The smile slid off her face as a serious look appeared in her eyes. "We have to. Things can't go on like this." Reaching into her bag, she fished out her wallet.
"Let me get that," he offered. "After all, you did me a favor."
She didn't quibble. "Thanks, Alex."
He watched her go, then turned his attention toward the small blonde waitress who was ringing up some departing customers. She looked strained. Sure, she smiled cheerfully at the couple as they paid their bill, but he knew her too well to accept that she really felt that happy. She was just getting to be an excellent actress, that was all.
Heading over to the booth, Maria quipped, "I see the second shift is on. Can I get you anything?"
"A root beer and a burger would be great," he answered, not bothering with a menu. He studied her carefully. Her eyes looked lost, but her face displayed a cheerful demeanor that was quite at odds with what he knew she was feeling. She bore up under his probing gaze for a moment, then snapped, "What? I'm fine."
"Okay. You're fine, nothing's wrong in the world, and I'm just here for a bite to eat. No problem."
She flushed. "Look, I...I'll just go get your root beer, okay? You can worry about me later." Turning abruptly, she headed for the counter before he could speak up. Alex tiredly rubbed the back of his neck. Surprise, surprise. This wasn't going to be easy.
Alex was still sitting in the booth as she finished closing up the restaurant. Agnes had been scheduled, but had left early, leaving Maria to clean up by herself, and she'd stubbornly refused Alex's offer of help. She wanted to keep busy for as long as possible, in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid all thought processes.
Yawning, she finished sweeping up and put the broom and dustpan away. It was just like Alex to wait for her, so he could make sure she got home okay. She suspected that he would have even if he hadn't been on stalker detail. She smiled and called out, "I've just got to change, and we can go, all right?"
An affirmative grunt accompanied her into the back room. Untying her silver apron, she headed over to her locker, only to stop abruptly at the sight of the alien lying on the couch. The small, green, stuffed alien doll, that is. Its head had been ripped off and a folded piece of notebook paper was speared to its small chest with an open safety pin. With her hands trembling, Maria freed the note and unfolded it. The printing on it scrawled violently across the page. GUESS WHO'S NEXT? it asked.
In a shaky voice, Maria called out softly. "Alex?"
"Yeah?" came the response.
Her voice continued to tremble. "Could you come here? Please?"
Instantly he was through the door and by her side. "What is it?"
"Look," she faltered, pointing to the decapitated doll and handing him the paper. "It's another note. Only this time there's more to it."
He read the message and looked at the stuffed toy. "This is getting serious, Maria."
"I know. And it's not just pointed at me any more. It's an alien, Alex. Someone knows about Michael, Max, or Isabel. Or all three of them," she stated in a frightened voice. "Liz should be upstairs. I'll get her; you call the other three. We need to talk."
TBC...