Part Four
The drive back was the hardest thing Maria had ever done. Twice she almost turned the car around and thought about disappearing forever. Two things stopped her – the first was her mother. Amy Deluca didn't have anyone else and Maria was not about to leave her alone. The second one was more difficult to define.
It was a combination of anger, disappointment and sheer stubbornness. Maria was furious with her friends, so angry in fact, it overrode all the hurt and betrayal. To think that they had so little trust in her that they would believe something so ridiculous about her, that they would think she was capable of betraying so many people. It was wrong on so many levels she just didn't know where to begin. In addition to that she refused to leave, to give any of them the satisfaction, the simplicity of never having to see her again.
All that persistence and stubbornness Maria had used when Michael gave them up for three months while Maria clung despite any hope was what she used. Only this time Maria wasn't going to fight for her friends. She was through doing that. This time she was going to fight for herself. If they wanted her back, something she doubted, they would have to fight for her because this time as much as she was dead to them, they were dead to her.
The first thing she did when she got back, was drive to the Crashdown. She did this first for a number of reasons. One – Liz wouldn't be back from school yet. Two – she needed to cut all ties and the CD represented everyone of those. It was the link between them all, where they met, where she grew up, where she and Liz played and cemented their friendship. It was also an important source of income to her, for a family that struggled to cope. Despite all that, or maybe because of it Maria took a deep breathe and walked in to the familiar café. Mr Parker was easy to find and with the familiarity of years of relationship Maria walked up to him and handed in her resignation.
Mr Parker was shocked to say the least. He of all people knew how much she needed the job and her quitting was something he never saw coming.
"Maria are you sure. You need this job. Why?"
"I'm sure Mr P. It's something I have to do. Besides, I'll have more time for after school stuff. It'll be cool, Mr Parker."
"Alright, but I'm not calling it your resignation. We'll call it a leave of absence so that if you want to, you can return anytime," he said.
The cynical part of Maria wondered if he would be so friendly if he believed what his daughter believed. Still she smiled at him, the man that had been more of a father to her than her own, "Thank you.. I appreciate that, sir but I don't think I will be coming back."
"Just in case, then."
Maria turned around to leave but before she did, she went back and hugged him. In a soft tone she said, "You're a good father, Mr P."
Mr Parker ignored the slight panic he felt when he heard her tone. It had a ring of finality to it, like he was never going to see her again. He looked at the girl that had been a second daughter to him and blinked at her eyes – normally so alive and full of happiness, but today they had hardened. He told himself he was imagining it and instead returned the hug tightly, - a part of him aware he might never get to do this again.
"You're a great daughter Maria."
"Bye, Mr Parker." And with those final words Maria walked out of the place that had been her life for so long.
A part of her was terrified and yet at the same time, despite her hurt, her anger, her new jobless state, Maria felt free. With every step she took, a new layer got added to the stonewall so not part of character before. Before the betrayal.
End Part Four
IA/N
Hey guys
I just wanted to thank everyone whose reading this and took time to feedback. It means a lot
DominoI
The drive back was the hardest thing Maria had ever done. Twice she almost turned the car around and thought about disappearing forever. Two things stopped her – the first was her mother. Amy Deluca didn't have anyone else and Maria was not about to leave her alone. The second one was more difficult to define.
It was a combination of anger, disappointment and sheer stubbornness. Maria was furious with her friends, so angry in fact, it overrode all the hurt and betrayal. To think that they had so little trust in her that they would believe something so ridiculous about her, that they would think she was capable of betraying so many people. It was wrong on so many levels she just didn't know where to begin. In addition to that she refused to leave, to give any of them the satisfaction, the simplicity of never having to see her again.
All that persistence and stubbornness Maria had used when Michael gave them up for three months while Maria clung despite any hope was what she used. Only this time Maria wasn't going to fight for her friends. She was through doing that. This time she was going to fight for herself. If they wanted her back, something she doubted, they would have to fight for her because this time as much as she was dead to them, they were dead to her.
The first thing she did when she got back, was drive to the Crashdown. She did this first for a number of reasons. One – Liz wouldn't be back from school yet. Two – she needed to cut all ties and the CD represented everyone of those. It was the link between them all, where they met, where she grew up, where she and Liz played and cemented their friendship. It was also an important source of income to her, for a family that struggled to cope. Despite all that, or maybe because of it Maria took a deep breathe and walked in to the familiar café. Mr Parker was easy to find and with the familiarity of years of relationship Maria walked up to him and handed in her resignation.
Mr Parker was shocked to say the least. He of all people knew how much she needed the job and her quitting was something he never saw coming.
"Maria are you sure. You need this job. Why?"
"I'm sure Mr P. It's something I have to do. Besides, I'll have more time for after school stuff. It'll be cool, Mr Parker."
"Alright, but I'm not calling it your resignation. We'll call it a leave of absence so that if you want to, you can return anytime," he said.
The cynical part of Maria wondered if he would be so friendly if he believed what his daughter believed. Still she smiled at him, the man that had been more of a father to her than her own, "Thank you.. I appreciate that, sir but I don't think I will be coming back."
"Just in case, then."
Maria turned around to leave but before she did, she went back and hugged him. In a soft tone she said, "You're a good father, Mr P."
Mr Parker ignored the slight panic he felt when he heard her tone. It had a ring of finality to it, like he was never going to see her again. He looked at the girl that had been a second daughter to him and blinked at her eyes – normally so alive and full of happiness, but today they had hardened. He told himself he was imagining it and instead returned the hug tightly, - a part of him aware he might never get to do this again.
"You're a great daughter Maria."
"Bye, Mr Parker." And with those final words Maria walked out of the place that had been her life for so long.
A part of her was terrified and yet at the same time, despite her hurt, her anger, her new jobless state, Maria felt free. With every step she took, a new layer got added to the stonewall so not part of character before. Before the betrayal.
End Part Four
IA/N
Hey guys
I just wanted to thank everyone whose reading this and took time to feedback. It means a lot
DominoI