Prologue

"So are we still up for girls-night?" Maria asked when she finally had a break. She sat down at the counter while Liz poured some coffee into cups.

"Yeah sure," Liz said, sounding stressed. "It's been a while hasn't it?"

"It has," Maria agreed. She didn't add that it was mostly because Liz was always with Max.

"Well, I have to get these out now," Liz said. "Michael! Hurry up with the Saturn rings will you," she screamed before half running away with the coffee.

"You try cocking alone for a full restaurant," Michael mumbled and Maria smiled at him.

"I think you're doing a great job," she said and walked over to him.

"Well, thank you," Michael said without looking at her. "So, are you coming over to my place tonight? I'll cook for ya."

"It sounds very tempting but I already have plans with Liz tonight. Sorry spaceboy," Maria said.

"Girls-night?"

"Girls-night," Maria confirmed.

"Are you going to talk about me and how wonderful I am?"

"Oh, we're going to talk about you, that's for sure" Maria said with a mysterious voice.

"Well just don't be too harsh on me will you?" Michael said looking up from the burgers for a second.

"I can't promise anything," Maria replied and smiled at him. She reached over and gave him a kiss on the lips. Michael gave in to it and they kissed for some time before Michael broke away. "Damn it, I burned the burgers again…"

Three hours later Maria sat down in a booth with Isabel and Kyle. The restaurant had closed and she had changed into her regular clothes. Liz was upstairs changing and Michael had gone home.

"So Isabel, you wanna join me and Liz for girls-night?" Maria asked.

Isabel looked up as if she had been in a whole other world. "Thanks, but I think I'll just stay at home. I'm not feeling so festive."

Maria nodded but wondered if it wouldn't be better for Isabel to be around friends. After Alex died she hadn't been herself. Not that Maria blamed her, Alex's death had changed them all, but it was different for Isabel. She had just realized that she was in love with him when Tess killed him.

Maria shivered just thinking about her, Tess. That evil bitch had hurt all her friends so badly and Maria hated her.

"I'm in," Kyle said, ripping her from her thoughts.

Maria had to think for a while before remembering what they had been talking about.

"Kyle. Does the word girl mean anything to you?"

"Oh surtenly," Kyle answered. "It means…"

"Oh, just forget it, I don't wanna hear" Maria interrupted. "Your gender isn't welcome okay?"

"Got it," Kyle said. "Just leave me to my fate with dad and Amy making out everywhere at home."

Maria smiled at that. She and her mom had moved in only two weeks ago and she had already seen Jim and her mom make out in every single room and place. Except for her room thank God. She had actually seen them in Kyle's room but decided not to gross him out by telling him that.

"Sorry," she mumbled to Kyle. Just then, Liz walked into the room dressed like she was going out or something.

"You look great Liz, but we're just having a girls-night," Maria said.

Liz stopped abruptly. "Oh, Maria I'm sorry, I forgot," she said. "Max called and wanted to go out. He had tickets to a play I've wanted to see for some time now. Can we take it some other day?"

Maria felt the disappointment rise in her, but forced a smile at her friend. "Of course," she said. "Have fun!"

"Oh, thank you, I will," Liz said and ran to give Maria a quick hug.

Then they heard a knock on the door and turned to see Max standing outside. Liz ran over there and let him in.

"Hi everyone," he said and gave Liz a long kiss that she eventually broke.

"We have to go so we don't miss the start," she said.

"Bye!" she said and winked to Maria, Kyle and Isabel. "Oh, and Maria, can you close up? Thank you," she said and then closed the door behind her and Max.

"Sure, I'll close up," Maria said and sighed.

"Wow," Kyle said. "You got dumped and is left with the dirty work."

"Seems to be the returning theme these days," Maria mumbled and stood up.

"So are you coming home with me then?" Kyle asked hopefully.

"No, I think I'm going over to Michael's," Maria answered…

TBC...    Please tell me what you think!!!