Part Sixteen
Alex opened his eyes reluctantly the next morning. The sun was shining brightly through the curtains that none of them had thought to close last night. Groaning softly, he sat up and lifted his hand to massage his aching neck. Sleeping on the couch was not good for anyone that had his tall lanky frame. Glancing around he took in his other sleeping companions. Max was snoring softly on the couch across and Kyle was sprawled half in and half out his sleeping bag. Alex turned his head to see where Michael was, and moaned at the protest his neck made at the movement.
Michael was nowhere in sight. He must already be up. Alex swung his legs over the side of the couch and padded over the carpeted floors to the stairs. A few minutes later he was back in the kitchen, deciding whether or not to start breakfast or go out and fetch some clothes. Stalling, Alex went back upstairs to see if anyone else was awake. Walking quietly he softly opened the door to the girls room and stuck his head round it. All three were fast asleep. Backing out, he left before he disturbed them and went over to Maria's room. He didn't open the door immediately like before and instead paused. Not for the first time guilt overtook him when he thought about facing her - his best friend. What happened last night was necessary. Necessary to get her back.
Strengthening his resolve his hand tightened around the doorknob and he slowly turned it. The door slipped open quietly. Maria lay on her stomach, her face hidden in the pillows facing the window, her hand dangling over the edge of the bed. For a few seconds Alex just stared at her, memories of sleepovers and childhood dreams surfacing. He would do whatever it took to get her to forgive him, forgiving himself on the other hand… he wasn't so sure about that.
As Alex turned to leave the room, he caught sight of something behind the bed. Walking towards it, he wasn't surprised to see Michael covered in his sleeping bag, hidden by the bed. He lay on the floor, asleep with one hand outstretched lightly holding Maria's dangling fingers. A slight smile graced Alex's face for a second, before disappearing as fast as it had appeared. There was little to smile about these days. Alex turned around left.
Back in the kitchen, a pair of arms encircled his waist as a now awake Isabel greeted her boyfriend and a second smile touched his features. Maybe not so little to smile about.
"Morning, honey. Sleep well?" she practically purred.
"Uh-huh. You?" he turned in her arms.
"Oh, yes. Today is going to be a good day. I just know it," Isabel replied, optimism spilling forth.
Despite himself, Alex found himself believing, "I hope so. Do you think she'll forgive us?"
The smile on Isabel's face wavered for a second before returning full force, "Yes, she will. She has to," she replied, her tone almost desperate.
By mutual agreement, an unspoken one, Alex and Isabel changed the subject. Not wasting any more time they decided to first get some necessities. Isabel walked into the living room and climbing over a sprawled out Kyle managed to access Max's jeans lying over the sofa, to recover the keys. Alex quickly scribbled the others a note and the two left to make a few stops.
When they arrived back, Michael was awake and busy in the kitchen. He had already started breakfast. A grunted good morning was all they got from him. He didn't mention last night's sleeping arrangements and neither did Alex. He knew, from Isabel that it had been a while since Michael had got any sleep at all - not since the whole mess had started, and what happened after, with Courtney had only made it worse - and because of that, and the fact that Michael wasn't the kind of guy you brought this up with Alex held his silence. Working companionably the two guys made pancakes while Isabel showered. Alex took his turn next and then Michael.
By then, almost everyone was awake and waiting. Maria was still asleep and no one wanted to disturb her. The guys were in the kitchen, debating what to do when they heard soft footsteps padding down the stairs. Immediately they all shut up and waited. Obviously still half asleep, Maria walked to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. Rubbing her eyes with one hand she walked to the cupboards. And that's when all hell broke loose.
A slight noise from one of the guys had her head turning sharply and at the same time she threw the bottle at the source of the noise. Her aim was right on target and the bottle went straight for Max's head - reaching out his hand, Kyle caught the bottle just narrowly missing hitting Michael who was also attempting to catch it. Her feet poised to run, Maria took in the sight of the four guys standing there and she paused, a look of shock crossing her face.
"Damn. It wasn't a dream. I should have known it… but you singing, I mean what was I suppose to think?" she said, softly almost to herself, "Wait a second," and her voice rose and she stalked over to them, "You threw me over your shoulder. What the hell were you thinking, huh?" poking her finger in Michael's chest to punctuate each word.
"Want some breakfast, honey? I made your favourites," Michael said ignoring the anger in her voice. She stared at him in shock, and she wasn't the only one. What was he doing?
Suddenly Maria seemed to visibly slump, all the fight going out of her. It was difficult when they all wore the same pleading expressions she saw them wear when they sang to her last night - hard to resist those faces, "You are not leaving, are you?" It was a statement not a question. "Fine, blueberry pancakes?" she asked, moving away from them and taking the bottle of water from Kyle's hands.
"Yeah."
"I'm not your honey, Michael. I don't think I ever was," she added, "I'm going to change," and with that parting shot she left before anyone else could say anything.
Alex gave them all a big smile, "She's having breakfast with us. Isabel," he yelled.
The girls came running into the kitchen.
"Shhh. She's still sleeping," Isabel said admonishing Alex.
"What? What happened?" Tess asked the question Isabel didn't.
Kyle went up to her and hugged her, "She's having breakfast with us."
They all went into the dining room and sat down where the girls had set the table. Maria wasn't long. She came in quietly and sat down. A part of her knew that she couldn't avoid this any longer. And she had to admire the genius in kidnapping her and taking her to her own house. Even she did escape, where was she supposed to go. And the 7 of them were obviously not leaving anytime soon. At least, they had let her sleep last night… it was strange but she slept better last night than she had in a long time. Not since this whole mess started. Today she felt a little fresher, more up to dealing with this.
Breakfast was over. It was time to talk.
End part 16
Alex opened his eyes reluctantly the next morning. The sun was shining brightly through the curtains that none of them had thought to close last night. Groaning softly, he sat up and lifted his hand to massage his aching neck. Sleeping on the couch was not good for anyone that had his tall lanky frame. Glancing around he took in his other sleeping companions. Max was snoring softly on the couch across and Kyle was sprawled half in and half out his sleeping bag. Alex turned his head to see where Michael was, and moaned at the protest his neck made at the movement.
Michael was nowhere in sight. He must already be up. Alex swung his legs over the side of the couch and padded over the carpeted floors to the stairs. A few minutes later he was back in the kitchen, deciding whether or not to start breakfast or go out and fetch some clothes. Stalling, Alex went back upstairs to see if anyone else was awake. Walking quietly he softly opened the door to the girls room and stuck his head round it. All three were fast asleep. Backing out, he left before he disturbed them and went over to Maria's room. He didn't open the door immediately like before and instead paused. Not for the first time guilt overtook him when he thought about facing her - his best friend. What happened last night was necessary. Necessary to get her back.
Strengthening his resolve his hand tightened around the doorknob and he slowly turned it. The door slipped open quietly. Maria lay on her stomach, her face hidden in the pillows facing the window, her hand dangling over the edge of the bed. For a few seconds Alex just stared at her, memories of sleepovers and childhood dreams surfacing. He would do whatever it took to get her to forgive him, forgiving himself on the other hand… he wasn't so sure about that.
As Alex turned to leave the room, he caught sight of something behind the bed. Walking towards it, he wasn't surprised to see Michael covered in his sleeping bag, hidden by the bed. He lay on the floor, asleep with one hand outstretched lightly holding Maria's dangling fingers. A slight smile graced Alex's face for a second, before disappearing as fast as it had appeared. There was little to smile about these days. Alex turned around left.
Back in the kitchen, a pair of arms encircled his waist as a now awake Isabel greeted her boyfriend and a second smile touched his features. Maybe not so little to smile about.
"Morning, honey. Sleep well?" she practically purred.
"Uh-huh. You?" he turned in her arms.
"Oh, yes. Today is going to be a good day. I just know it," Isabel replied, optimism spilling forth.
Despite himself, Alex found himself believing, "I hope so. Do you think she'll forgive us?"
The smile on Isabel's face wavered for a second before returning full force, "Yes, she will. She has to," she replied, her tone almost desperate.
By mutual agreement, an unspoken one, Alex and Isabel changed the subject. Not wasting any more time they decided to first get some necessities. Isabel walked into the living room and climbing over a sprawled out Kyle managed to access Max's jeans lying over the sofa, to recover the keys. Alex quickly scribbled the others a note and the two left to make a few stops.
When they arrived back, Michael was awake and busy in the kitchen. He had already started breakfast. A grunted good morning was all they got from him. He didn't mention last night's sleeping arrangements and neither did Alex. He knew, from Isabel that it had been a while since Michael had got any sleep at all - not since the whole mess had started, and what happened after, with Courtney had only made it worse - and because of that, and the fact that Michael wasn't the kind of guy you brought this up with Alex held his silence. Working companionably the two guys made pancakes while Isabel showered. Alex took his turn next and then Michael.
By then, almost everyone was awake and waiting. Maria was still asleep and no one wanted to disturb her. The guys were in the kitchen, debating what to do when they heard soft footsteps padding down the stairs. Immediately they all shut up and waited. Obviously still half asleep, Maria walked to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. Rubbing her eyes with one hand she walked to the cupboards. And that's when all hell broke loose.
A slight noise from one of the guys had her head turning sharply and at the same time she threw the bottle at the source of the noise. Her aim was right on target and the bottle went straight for Max's head - reaching out his hand, Kyle caught the bottle just narrowly missing hitting Michael who was also attempting to catch it. Her feet poised to run, Maria took in the sight of the four guys standing there and she paused, a look of shock crossing her face.
"Damn. It wasn't a dream. I should have known it… but you singing, I mean what was I suppose to think?" she said, softly almost to herself, "Wait a second," and her voice rose and she stalked over to them, "You threw me over your shoulder. What the hell were you thinking, huh?" poking her finger in Michael's chest to punctuate each word.
"Want some breakfast, honey? I made your favourites," Michael said ignoring the anger in her voice. She stared at him in shock, and she wasn't the only one. What was he doing?
Suddenly Maria seemed to visibly slump, all the fight going out of her. It was difficult when they all wore the same pleading expressions she saw them wear when they sang to her last night - hard to resist those faces, "You are not leaving, are you?" It was a statement not a question. "Fine, blueberry pancakes?" she asked, moving away from them and taking the bottle of water from Kyle's hands.
"Yeah."
"I'm not your honey, Michael. I don't think I ever was," she added, "I'm going to change," and with that parting shot she left before anyone else could say anything.
Alex gave them all a big smile, "She's having breakfast with us. Isabel," he yelled.
The girls came running into the kitchen.
"Shhh. She's still sleeping," Isabel said admonishing Alex.
"What? What happened?" Tess asked the question Isabel didn't.
Kyle went up to her and hugged her, "She's having breakfast with us."
They all went into the dining room and sat down where the girls had set the table. Maria wasn't long. She came in quietly and sat down. A part of her knew that she couldn't avoid this any longer. And she had to admire the genius in kidnapping her and taking her to her own house. Even she did escape, where was she supposed to go. And the 7 of them were obviously not leaving anytime soon. At least, they had let her sleep last night… it was strange but she slept better last night than she had in a long time. Not since this whole mess started. Today she felt a little fresher, more up to dealing with this.
Breakfast was over. It was time to talk.
End part 16