Meanwhile on Earth…
Meanwhile on Earth…

Maria was running around the Crashdown trying to serve the hungry customers. 'God I wish Liz was here to help me with this crowd.' The replacement waitress for Liz didn't know what she was doing. She messed up all the orders, which made Maria do both of their work. In the regular booth Alex and Kyle sat chatting about the game the night before. Even though Kyle and Alex were sort of friends before the pod squad and Liz left for Antar, they became close friends since. Who knew they had so much in common?

It had been almost 2 weeks since their 5 friends left Earth, but it seemed much longer. Maria just wished she could get some type of message as to how they were. 'What if one of them is hurt or worse dead? What if Michael found some cute girl up there and forgot all about me?' Maria kept thinking. She had to keep sniffing cedar oil and reassuring herself by playing with her engagement ring. 'Mrs. Maria Guerin, that has a great ring to it.'

"Maria snap out of your wedding dreamland! Some of us are hungry you know." Kyle yelled waving his hand in front of Maria's face. Maria finally realized that she had walked over to take Kyle and Alex's order but went into Michael land. "Oh shut up, you are just cranky cause you caught out parents making out on the kitchen table!" Maria snapped back. "Hey wouldn't you be upset when you have to eat on that table an hour later!" Kyle asked. The three shuddered at the thought.

"So what do you guys want?" Maria asked impatiently. Alex looked over at Kyle, and Kyle nodded. "We'll have two cokes and two slices of men in blackberry pie." Maria wrote down the order and went to go fetch them their drinks. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Mr. Parker checking the inventory in the back. She felt bad for the man. Ever since Liz left him and Mrs. Parker have been wrecks. They blame themselves for them leaving, and with no other children they can pay attention to they drown themselves in work. Maria knew Liz would be back, but she wasn't sure that Mr. Parker thought so. 'Serves him right, he should not have lied to Liz. But no one should be moping like this though. Oh well back to the masses.'

Suddenly the music on the jukebox changed from soft classical music to Gigi D'Agostino's "I'll fly with you." Maria turned her head and saw a bunch of teenagers pushing the buttons on the jukebox. Maria started to listen to the lyrics and realized it hit way too close to home.

I still believe in your eyes;
I just don't care what you have done in your life.
Baby I'll always be here by your side;
Don't leave me waiting too long, please come by!
I still believe in your eyes;
There is no choice; I belong to your life.
Because I will live to love you someday;
You'll be my baby and we'll fly away   
And I'll fly with you,
I'll fly with you,
I'll fly with you!
Every day and every night,
I always dream that you are by my side.
Oh, baby, every day and every night,
Well I said everything's gonna be alright.

Maria gave Alex and Kyle their drinks and was about to go leave to go get their slices of pie when she could hear a faint whisper calling out to her. "Maria…" 'Michael?' Maria turned around and looked at her two friends and asked which one of them called to her in Michael's voice. She held her hands on her hips impatiently awaiting their response.

Kyle looked over at Alex with a very confused look. "Maria, we didn't say anything. Maybe you should take off work and go lay down. You know they aren't here, it is impossible for them to talk to us." Alex said with a worried look on his face. 'She's loosing it.' "Tell you what, I'll drive you home, you don't seem in the right state of mind to be driving." Alex was prepared to be yelled at, because no one drives her car, but instead Maria just looked sad and just nodded her head and left to go take some orders.

"I'm worried about Maria, Kyle. First she hears Michael calling to her, and then when I suggest driving her car she lets me. She never lets anyone drive her car. I hope they get home soon or else she's going to completely break down." Alex whispered when Maria was out of earshot. Kyle looked at Maria's retreating form and nodded.

TBC