Part Six
The weekend passed in much of the same way. Maria rehearsed, sang and buried herself in things to do to prevent thinking. On Sunday she even helped the Enterprise when one of their waitresses called in sick. She was dreading Monday but when it finally came, she dressed to kill and left for school determined to avoid all 7 of them.
Surprisingly, it was really easy to do that. As much as she didn't want to talk to them they didn't want to talk to her. She got through the morning without having to speak to anyone at all. Even lunch went well. She sat by herself for the first time in a long time. Being in a group of eight meant that there was always someone to sit with. She no longer had that but instead within minutes a couple of guys on the basketball team she had said less than two words to before sat down next to her and before she knew it the rest of the team followed suit. Even the cheerleaders sat down. And for once Maria was too occupied to think about why.
Across the quad, 6 people watched as she appeared to laugh and joke surrounded by Roswell High's popular. Michael was no where to be seen. He had been avoiding them all since the last confrontation. And the others, although they sat together barely said anything. Max and Liz resumed their relationship but there were no soulmate looks exchanged. In fact they hardly looked at each other, memories too painful. Everyone was depressed. Even spending the weekend totally apart did little to help. Kyle and Alex after the first few failed attempts at small talk lapsed into silence. Her absence was noticeable. Her laughter was missed. Her smile was longed for. But no one brought her up. She was a subject too painful to discuss, to think about. They sat and watched instead.
A phrase Alex had read once passed through his mind, 'Distance is salve to the betrayer's guilt.' The only problem Alex thought was, he couldn't figure out which of them was the guilty party. Maria or them. Both kept their distance. No one discussed the subject, anger and guilt competing for attention – both to be avoided at all costs. And no one thought about anything else.
Isabel had similar thoughts in her head. A few days ago, she was happy on a double date with her best friends and boyfriend and now she sat in a group of silent teens. The group was falling apart. This was the one thing they couldn't survive – the loss of her and Isabel knew there was nothing she could do and worse, if she wanted to do anything, her anger at points consuming her and at others her disbelief. Maybe all they could do was wait.
And that was how the week passed in school. Everyday Maria would sit somewhere and immediately be surrounded by people. Michael spent little time at school as possible and when he was there Maria avoided him completely and he her. It was the same with the others. At the CD, life was a bit different. Alex, and Kyle showed up everyday to support Liz in case Maria was there. And Isabel and Tess came with them. Maria never showed up. Michael kept to the kitchen and grilled burgers without saying a word to anyone.
There were too many memories of her everywhere, with them. It hurt too much to think about her so he tried not too. He avoided all of them so he wouldn't see the look of pain in their eyes that reflected his, so he wouldn't see their pity in their glances. It took them until the end of the week to try and find out where she was. Liz refused to ask her father. Eventually Tess sneaked into the breakroom to do what Liz wouldn't and stole the month schedule of the CD waitresses.
Unfortunately for her she got caught looking at it when Mr Parker walked in.
"Hello, Tess. What are you doing with the schedule?"
"I was just looking at it.." Tess said nervously but Mr Parker didn't seem to think anything was wrong with that so she continued and asked what she had been meaning to, " Maria isn't on it."
"Yes I know. Its sad. The place seems different without her. I wonder why she hasn't been in all week."
"She must be busy. I'll…I'll um…go now." With those last words Tess ran into the front and collapsed into the booth the five of them were siting.
"Well?" Isabel questioned.
"She's not on the schedule," Tess replied. The others looked shocked.
"Do you think Liz had her fired?" Kyle asked in a disbelieving voice.
"I did not," Liz replied from behind them, their orders in her hand.
"Mr Parker knew she wasn't going to be here, " Tess added.
"Do you think she quit?" max asked.
"No way. She wouldn't. She needs this job," Alex said.
"Its her life. She can do whatever she wants with it," Liz said coldly.
The others stared at her in shock. Liz had changed since the event. She didn't smile anymore and hardly spoke to anyone. Max and Michael were the same. The others didn't quite agree with Liz's assessment but there was nothing else they could do. None of them were talking to Maria so they couldn't ask what was going on, but despite the circumstances they were worried. Alex looked up and saw Michael staring at them, his face a mask. He heard as well.
End Part Six
A/N
You guys are the coolest. THanks for the feedback
Enjoy
Domino
The weekend passed in much of the same way. Maria rehearsed, sang and buried herself in things to do to prevent thinking. On Sunday she even helped the Enterprise when one of their waitresses called in sick. She was dreading Monday but when it finally came, she dressed to kill and left for school determined to avoid all 7 of them.
Surprisingly, it was really easy to do that. As much as she didn't want to talk to them they didn't want to talk to her. She got through the morning without having to speak to anyone at all. Even lunch went well. She sat by herself for the first time in a long time. Being in a group of eight meant that there was always someone to sit with. She no longer had that but instead within minutes a couple of guys on the basketball team she had said less than two words to before sat down next to her and before she knew it the rest of the team followed suit. Even the cheerleaders sat down. And for once Maria was too occupied to think about why.
Across the quad, 6 people watched as she appeared to laugh and joke surrounded by Roswell High's popular. Michael was no where to be seen. He had been avoiding them all since the last confrontation. And the others, although they sat together barely said anything. Max and Liz resumed their relationship but there were no soulmate looks exchanged. In fact they hardly looked at each other, memories too painful. Everyone was depressed. Even spending the weekend totally apart did little to help. Kyle and Alex after the first few failed attempts at small talk lapsed into silence. Her absence was noticeable. Her laughter was missed. Her smile was longed for. But no one brought her up. She was a subject too painful to discuss, to think about. They sat and watched instead.
A phrase Alex had read once passed through his mind, 'Distance is salve to the betrayer's guilt.' The only problem Alex thought was, he couldn't figure out which of them was the guilty party. Maria or them. Both kept their distance. No one discussed the subject, anger and guilt competing for attention – both to be avoided at all costs. And no one thought about anything else.
Isabel had similar thoughts in her head. A few days ago, she was happy on a double date with her best friends and boyfriend and now she sat in a group of silent teens. The group was falling apart. This was the one thing they couldn't survive – the loss of her and Isabel knew there was nothing she could do and worse, if she wanted to do anything, her anger at points consuming her and at others her disbelief. Maybe all they could do was wait.
And that was how the week passed in school. Everyday Maria would sit somewhere and immediately be surrounded by people. Michael spent little time at school as possible and when he was there Maria avoided him completely and he her. It was the same with the others. At the CD, life was a bit different. Alex, and Kyle showed up everyday to support Liz in case Maria was there. And Isabel and Tess came with them. Maria never showed up. Michael kept to the kitchen and grilled burgers without saying a word to anyone.
There were too many memories of her everywhere, with them. It hurt too much to think about her so he tried not too. He avoided all of them so he wouldn't see the look of pain in their eyes that reflected his, so he wouldn't see their pity in their glances. It took them until the end of the week to try and find out where she was. Liz refused to ask her father. Eventually Tess sneaked into the breakroom to do what Liz wouldn't and stole the month schedule of the CD waitresses.
Unfortunately for her she got caught looking at it when Mr Parker walked in.
"Hello, Tess. What are you doing with the schedule?"
"I was just looking at it.." Tess said nervously but Mr Parker didn't seem to think anything was wrong with that so she continued and asked what she had been meaning to, " Maria isn't on it."
"Yes I know. Its sad. The place seems different without her. I wonder why she hasn't been in all week."
"She must be busy. I'll…I'll um…go now." With those last words Tess ran into the front and collapsed into the booth the five of them were siting.
"Well?" Isabel questioned.
"She's not on the schedule," Tess replied. The others looked shocked.
"Do you think Liz had her fired?" Kyle asked in a disbelieving voice.
"I did not," Liz replied from behind them, their orders in her hand.
"Mr Parker knew she wasn't going to be here, " Tess added.
"Do you think she quit?" max asked.
"No way. She wouldn't. She needs this job," Alex said.
"Its her life. She can do whatever she wants with it," Liz said coldly.
The others stared at her in shock. Liz had changed since the event. She didn't smile anymore and hardly spoke to anyone. Max and Michael were the same. The others didn't quite agree with Liz's assessment but there was nothing else they could do. None of them were talking to Maria so they couldn't ask what was going on, but despite the circumstances they were worried. Alex looked up and saw Michael staring at them, his face a mask. He heard as well.
End Part Six
A/N
You guys are the coolest. THanks for the feedback
Enjoy
Domino