This part is written by Roswellian Princess 2001

Part 6

BACK IN ROSWELL

Michael had been brooding around his apartment waiting for Maria to come to him. Ever since their meeting at school, he hasn't been able to get the visions of Kyle kissing his girl out of his head. That had been two days ago, and still he hadn't heard anything from her. Everyone had stopped trying to talk to him, he had snapped at everyone who even attempted contact. The group seemed to understand that he wouldn't be livable again until Maria agreed to take him back.

'I've had enough,' he thought to himself. Grabbing his jacket he headed over to Maria's house to make her see his way.

When he arrived he knocked, expecting Maria to open the door, instead it was Amy who greeted him.

"Well Michael. This is a surprise. What can I do for you?"

Michael shuffled his feet nervously. Ever since Ms. Deulca caught him in Maria's bed after his fight with Hank he hasn't been able to look her in the eye. "Um, hi. Yeah, is Maria around?"

"No I'm sorry she's not. She said she needed to get a way for a while so she went to visit some friends in San Fransisco. She should be home in about a week or so."

"Yeah, thanks Ms. Deluca."

Michael turned and headed back to his apartment. Maria had run away. He couldn't believe it. Who did she know in California? Rather than going back to his apartment, he headed over to the Crashdown to get some answers from Liz.

Liz was talking to Max when Michael arrived. He could hear her giggling from across the room. 'Well I guess they patched things up,' he thought.

Michael sat across from Max. "Hey Liz. Have you heard from Maria?"

"No. Not since that day at school. I have called a couple of times but no one has answered the phone. I haven't seen her around school either. I figured she was just laying low for a while til she sorted things out."

"I just went by her house to talk to her and her mother said that she went out to California because she needed some time away."

Liz thought for a moment. Like Michael she couldn't believe that Maria would run either. Maria had always been the strong one, facing problems head on.

Michael broke her out of her reverie. "Do you know of any friends that Maria would have in San Fransisco? She never mentioned anyone to me."

Liz nodded. "She mentioned a while back that she knew some girls there. Apparently one time when her mom went there for a convention Maria went with her. While her mother was working Maria was wondering the City and she met, oh what was their name? Oh yeah, the Halliwells. She said that they spent a lot of time together, and I guess have writing back and forth ever since. She never said any more about them. Whenever we would ask about them she always changed the subject."

"Well her mom said that she would be gone for another week or so. But I am not waiting that long to talk to her. I don't like the idea of her being all alone when we don't know who's out there. I think I will take a little trip to California."

"I don't know Michael. You know how Maria is. Maybe we should just let her alone for a while. She is safe out there. We haven't heard anything from any evil aliens all summer. Let's let her come back on her own when she is ready."

"Fine," Michael snapped. "But if she is not back by the end of next week, I am going after her," he said walking out of the restaurant.

Liz watched him go. "He really is torn up about Maria, isn't he?"

Max nodded. "I am surprised though. Out of all of us I thought he would be the only one who wouldn't form any attachments. But I would say that he is attached now."

*~*~*~*~

BACK AT P3

Maria watched as Piper went through the inventory list with her Manager. She looked around the club, impressed. Her sister had done very well for herself. The club was one of the most popular in the City, packed almost every night.

"You must be so bored," said Piper walking over to her.

Maria smiled and shook her head. "No, I love watching you work. This place is amazing. I wish I could just stay here with you guys and finish school. Not ever go back to Roswell," Maria admonished.

"You can't run away forever. Your problems are bound to find you eventually. You know you would miss your mom, and even your friends, eventually. Besides you don't want this life. Trust me. Always running around. Dropping everything to go racing after the bad guys. Never having a normal life," Piper laughed. "Actually I guess you do live that kind of life don't you?"

"Yeah I do. But you know, without all the alien stuff I would have to admit that my life would be pretty boring. But you know I wish there were days when I could just take the day off."

"I hear ya on that one."

Maria stayed with Piper most of the day. Later that afternoon Phoebe came and picked her up for a mindless day of shopping. It was after going into yet another store that Maria approached the subject of using magic.

"Hey Phoebe, do you think you can show me some magic. I know that I am only human, but do you think it would be possible for me to perform any kind of spells?"

Phoebe looked at her sister questioningly. Maria had never asked to use magic before. "Well, there is magic in all living things. It is just a matter of finding where it lives in you. Can I ask why you want to learn?"

"Well with all the intergalactic trouble that seems to find me and my friends I wish there was a way for me to be a bigger help to them. I mean the Chekoslovakian's have their own powers, and Liz is a brain. Alex is a wiz on the computer, but I never really have a way of helping," Maria said looking at the ground.

"Oh Maria, you can't actually believe that. I mean without your positive attitude I am sure that group would be lost. You have this light about you that sets you apart from everything else, and people are drawn to it." Maria still looked unsure. "But if you want I will show you some simple spells to protect yourself. Wouldn't want you to get hurt while fighting evil aliens or anything," Phoebe said smiling.

Maria hugged Phoebe tight. "Thank you so much."

"No problem little sis," said Phoebe returning the embrace. She just hoped Maria knew what she was getting herself into. She had more power within her than she was aware of. Power that could be her downfall if the wrong people found out about her. The secret of Maria's power was guarded carefully by the Charmed Ones and their whitelighter. Not even Maria new the whold truth.

TBC