Maria ran as fast as she could out of the bar. She wanted to get away from the cameras and most of all Michael. She thought this is what she wanted, for Michael to pick her but now she wasn't so sure.
"Maria!" Michael yelled running after her. Maria continued running but Michael stopped her. When he turned her around she was crying. "Maria what's wrong? I thought this is what you wanted. Why are you running from me?"
"I thought you wanted Courtney."
"No, I want you," Michael smiled.
"Then why were you kissing her in the bar?"
"She kissed me. And I pushed her away. Maria you have to know I only want you."
Maria ran into Michael's arms but then pulled away. "I can't do this Michael," she said backing away from him.
"Why?" Michael asked confused.
"I can't get attached."
"I won't hurt you."
"I hate myself for trusting you, and I hate that I feel this way about you, and I hate that I'm scared. I won't get hurt again!" Maria yelled.
"Maria I promise I won't hurt you. Just give me a chance. Look we'll take it as slow as you want to but I think I'm falling in love with you Maria."
Maria started to cry because she felt the same way. She started to walk into Michael's arms but stopped herself. "No, Michael I can't."
"Why?"
"Look I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry Maria. Just be with me okay."
"No Michael!"
"Maria,"
"No Michael. You don't understand. You can't possibly understand what's it's like to have someone you love and trust almost kill you!" Maria cried referring to David.
"Yes I can!"
Maria wiped the tears from her face and looked at Michael. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"Nothing. Look you don't want me, fine I get it," Michael said walking off to leave.
How could Michael think she didn't want him? Wasn't he listening to her song? "Wait Michael!" she yelled chasing after him. Michael turned around and faced her when she caught up with him.
"Look Maria you already said you don't get attached well I don't either. It was nice meeting you. You were right I should have picked Courtney."
"I'm sure if you want her you can still have her. I'm sure she's still waiting at the bar." Michael was suddenly acting like a jerk and Maria couldn't understand why. Was he just like all the other men she trusted and who had failed her?
"Bye Maria. Have a nice life," Michael said walking away from Maria again.
"Michael, it's been three days since the show aired and you haven't left the hotel room. Come down to the beach with me and Max," Kyle told his friend.
"I'm busy."
"With what? You're just sitting there. Look Michael I know you liked Maria but there are plenty of other girls out there. And I'm sure you could look Courtney up."
"Go away Kyle and leave me alone."
"Fine. You can wallow around in self pity for the rest of our vacation but I'm going to go enjoy myself." Kyle had never seen Michael this upset over a woman before. Michael never talked about Maria but after seeing the show on TV and watching Michael mope around the apartment he knew it was Maria upsetting him. Michael was stubborn and Kyle didn't know what to do to help his friend. Max had told him to just give Michael space.
Kyle met up with Max who was already lounging around on the beach.
"So how's Michael?" Max asked.
"The same. He refuses to come down here."
Maria was meeting her friends down by the beach. She had been cooped up in their room for three days and she finally decided to get out of the room. She wished she could just get over Michael but nothing she did worked.
Kyle did a double take when he saw a familiar woman walking along the beach. Before Max could stop Kyle from interfering Kyle ran after the woman. "Maria!" Kyle yelled.
"Do I know you?" Maria asked turning around.
"No, but I recognize you from the show."
"Oh."
"Look it's probably none of my business but Michael's been cooped up in his room since the day he met you and I really think you should go talk to him."
"I don't know if that's a good idea."
"Michael's my best friend and he's been though a lot in his life. Please give him another chance," Kyle pleaded.
"What room is he in?" Maria asked.
"Room 211," Kyle smiled.
Maria nervously walked up to Michael's room. She wasn't sure this was such a great idea and almost changed her mind but she wanted to give Michael another chance. I mean maybe she was right about him. Kyle seemed like a loyal friend and said Michael had had a hard life. Ever since that night Maria couldn't figure out why Michael blew her off after he picked her. Maria felt so stupid. She should have just kissed him back that day and they would have been together instead of both of them being miserable. In a way it made Maria happy to hear Michael had been cooped up in his room too. They both were just so stubborn but she had to make the first move if she ever wanted to be happy with Michael. Maria finally reached his door and knocked.
"Go away Kyle! I told you I want to be alone," Michael yelled at the door.
Maria knocked again.
"Go away!" Michael yelled as he opened the door expecting to see Kyle there. He figured Kyle just had forgotten his keys. "Oh," Michael said shocked to see Maria there.
Maria took in Michael's appearance. He looked like he hadn't slept in days and his hair was uncombed and sticking up. He still looked sexy to Maria though.
Michael instantly wished he had showered that morning and combed his hair. He never expected to see Maria again. "I thought you were Kyle," Michael said.
"Can I come in?" Maria asked.
"It's not a good time," Michael answered.
"Its just Kyle told me that you weren't doing anything."
"Kyle should have kept his mouth shut."
"Michael can you please just not be cold to me. I didn't come here to argue. I don't understand why you're being so mean to me."
Michael instantly felt his heart soften. He was being a bastard and he knew it. But Maria still wanted to talk to him. "Come in," Michael said allowing her in. "I'm sorry," he said.
Maria and Michael both sat down on the couch. "I've done nothing but think about that day of the show. Every since David hurt me I haven't been able to trust anyone Michael and I know I pushed you away and that wasn't fair. You were nothing but sweet and kind to me. You said you were falling in love with me Michael and I was scared because I feel the same way. But you also said you don't get attached either and that someone hurt you before. Michael I trust you with my heart and I want you to be able to trust me," Maria said speaking from her heart. "I pushed you away and I'm sorry but I'm not going to let you push me away."
Michael wasn't sure what to say to that. "You're the first person I've ever met that I don't want to push away. I want to trust you but I don't have that much experience on relationships."
"Just tell me the truth."
"I never knew my parents. As far back as I can remember I was moved from foster home to foster home. The last home I went to was a man named Hank. His wife died and I guess he couldn't take it because he started drinking heavily and that's when he turned mean."
"How?"
"He beat me Maria and it's my own fault."
"No it wasn't Michael. You were just a child."
"I let it happen until I was 16 and I became emancipated. I just didn't have anywhere to go. When Hank heard I was leaving him that's when he almost killed me. He broke a few of my ribs and he tried to choke me to death. I almost died. He was upset that he wouldn't be getting money from the state anymore for a foster child. But you see I should have left before it got that bad. I should have fought back."
Maria took a hold of Michael's hand. "Michael it wasn't your fault. Hank was a cruel man. You didn't deserve it Michael. I was wrong to walk away from you but I'm not leaving now. I know it's crazy that it happened so fast but I love you Michael."
Michael wrapped his arms around Maria and she held him tight. Maria could feel Michael shake and heard him cry.
"No one's ever said that to me before," Michael said after calming down in Maria's arms.
"I guess I'm just lucky that I've gotten to see the real you. I love you Michael," She said pulling back from his arms to look at him.
"I love you too," Michael said for the first time in his life.
Maria looked into Michael's eyes and knew that the time was right. "So are we all alone?"
"Well you said Kyle sent you up here?" Michael asked with a grin wiping his tears from his eyes.
"Yes."
"Well then I'm sure he'll keep Max away and we have the apartment to ourselves."
"Where's your bedroom?"
"Maria I don't want to rush you into anything you don't want to do."
Maria looked deeply into Michael's eyes. "I've never wanted anything more in my life Michael."
Michael's heart grew with pride. He was wanted and loved. He gently picked Maria up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom.
TBC...
"Maria!" Michael yelled running after her. Maria continued running but Michael stopped her. When he turned her around she was crying. "Maria what's wrong? I thought this is what you wanted. Why are you running from me?"
"I thought you wanted Courtney."
"No, I want you," Michael smiled.
"Then why were you kissing her in the bar?"
"She kissed me. And I pushed her away. Maria you have to know I only want you."
Maria ran into Michael's arms but then pulled away. "I can't do this Michael," she said backing away from him.
"Why?" Michael asked confused.
"I can't get attached."
"I won't hurt you."
"I hate myself for trusting you, and I hate that I feel this way about you, and I hate that I'm scared. I won't get hurt again!" Maria yelled.
"Maria I promise I won't hurt you. Just give me a chance. Look we'll take it as slow as you want to but I think I'm falling in love with you Maria."
Maria started to cry because she felt the same way. She started to walk into Michael's arms but stopped herself. "No, Michael I can't."
"Why?"
"Look I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry Maria. Just be with me okay."
"No Michael!"
"Maria,"
"No Michael. You don't understand. You can't possibly understand what's it's like to have someone you love and trust almost kill you!" Maria cried referring to David.
"Yes I can!"
Maria wiped the tears from her face and looked at Michael. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"Nothing. Look you don't want me, fine I get it," Michael said walking off to leave.
How could Michael think she didn't want him? Wasn't he listening to her song? "Wait Michael!" she yelled chasing after him. Michael turned around and faced her when she caught up with him.
"Look Maria you already said you don't get attached well I don't either. It was nice meeting you. You were right I should have picked Courtney."
"I'm sure if you want her you can still have her. I'm sure she's still waiting at the bar." Michael was suddenly acting like a jerk and Maria couldn't understand why. Was he just like all the other men she trusted and who had failed her?
"Bye Maria. Have a nice life," Michael said walking away from Maria again.
"Michael, it's been three days since the show aired and you haven't left the hotel room. Come down to the beach with me and Max," Kyle told his friend.
"I'm busy."
"With what? You're just sitting there. Look Michael I know you liked Maria but there are plenty of other girls out there. And I'm sure you could look Courtney up."
"Go away Kyle and leave me alone."
"Fine. You can wallow around in self pity for the rest of our vacation but I'm going to go enjoy myself." Kyle had never seen Michael this upset over a woman before. Michael never talked about Maria but after seeing the show on TV and watching Michael mope around the apartment he knew it was Maria upsetting him. Michael was stubborn and Kyle didn't know what to do to help his friend. Max had told him to just give Michael space.
Kyle met up with Max who was already lounging around on the beach.
"So how's Michael?" Max asked.
"The same. He refuses to come down here."
Maria was meeting her friends down by the beach. She had been cooped up in their room for three days and she finally decided to get out of the room. She wished she could just get over Michael but nothing she did worked.
Kyle did a double take when he saw a familiar woman walking along the beach. Before Max could stop Kyle from interfering Kyle ran after the woman. "Maria!" Kyle yelled.
"Do I know you?" Maria asked turning around.
"No, but I recognize you from the show."
"Oh."
"Look it's probably none of my business but Michael's been cooped up in his room since the day he met you and I really think you should go talk to him."
"I don't know if that's a good idea."
"Michael's my best friend and he's been though a lot in his life. Please give him another chance," Kyle pleaded.
"What room is he in?" Maria asked.
"Room 211," Kyle smiled.
Maria nervously walked up to Michael's room. She wasn't sure this was such a great idea and almost changed her mind but she wanted to give Michael another chance. I mean maybe she was right about him. Kyle seemed like a loyal friend and said Michael had had a hard life. Ever since that night Maria couldn't figure out why Michael blew her off after he picked her. Maria felt so stupid. She should have just kissed him back that day and they would have been together instead of both of them being miserable. In a way it made Maria happy to hear Michael had been cooped up in his room too. They both were just so stubborn but she had to make the first move if she ever wanted to be happy with Michael. Maria finally reached his door and knocked.
"Go away Kyle! I told you I want to be alone," Michael yelled at the door.
Maria knocked again.
"Go away!" Michael yelled as he opened the door expecting to see Kyle there. He figured Kyle just had forgotten his keys. "Oh," Michael said shocked to see Maria there.
Maria took in Michael's appearance. He looked like he hadn't slept in days and his hair was uncombed and sticking up. He still looked sexy to Maria though.
Michael instantly wished he had showered that morning and combed his hair. He never expected to see Maria again. "I thought you were Kyle," Michael said.
"Can I come in?" Maria asked.
"It's not a good time," Michael answered.
"Its just Kyle told me that you weren't doing anything."
"Kyle should have kept his mouth shut."
"Michael can you please just not be cold to me. I didn't come here to argue. I don't understand why you're being so mean to me."
Michael instantly felt his heart soften. He was being a bastard and he knew it. But Maria still wanted to talk to him. "Come in," Michael said allowing her in. "I'm sorry," he said.
Maria and Michael both sat down on the couch. "I've done nothing but think about that day of the show. Every since David hurt me I haven't been able to trust anyone Michael and I know I pushed you away and that wasn't fair. You were nothing but sweet and kind to me. You said you were falling in love with me Michael and I was scared because I feel the same way. But you also said you don't get attached either and that someone hurt you before. Michael I trust you with my heart and I want you to be able to trust me," Maria said speaking from her heart. "I pushed you away and I'm sorry but I'm not going to let you push me away."
Michael wasn't sure what to say to that. "You're the first person I've ever met that I don't want to push away. I want to trust you but I don't have that much experience on relationships."
"Just tell me the truth."
"I never knew my parents. As far back as I can remember I was moved from foster home to foster home. The last home I went to was a man named Hank. His wife died and I guess he couldn't take it because he started drinking heavily and that's when he turned mean."
"How?"
"He beat me Maria and it's my own fault."
"No it wasn't Michael. You were just a child."
"I let it happen until I was 16 and I became emancipated. I just didn't have anywhere to go. When Hank heard I was leaving him that's when he almost killed me. He broke a few of my ribs and he tried to choke me to death. I almost died. He was upset that he wouldn't be getting money from the state anymore for a foster child. But you see I should have left before it got that bad. I should have fought back."
Maria took a hold of Michael's hand. "Michael it wasn't your fault. Hank was a cruel man. You didn't deserve it Michael. I was wrong to walk away from you but I'm not leaving now. I know it's crazy that it happened so fast but I love you Michael."
Michael wrapped his arms around Maria and she held him tight. Maria could feel Michael shake and heard him cry.
"No one's ever said that to me before," Michael said after calming down in Maria's arms.
"I guess I'm just lucky that I've gotten to see the real you. I love you Michael," She said pulling back from his arms to look at him.
"I love you too," Michael said for the first time in his life.
Maria looked into Michael's eyes and knew that the time was right. "So are we all alone?"
"Well you said Kyle sent you up here?" Michael asked with a grin wiping his tears from his eyes.
"Yes."
"Well then I'm sure he'll keep Max away and we have the apartment to ourselves."
"Where's your bedroom?"
"Maria I don't want to rush you into anything you don't want to do."
Maria looked deeply into Michael's eyes. "I've never wanted anything more in my life Michael."
Michael's heart grew with pride. He was wanted and loved. He gently picked Maria up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom.
TBC...