[b]True Colors[/b]

[i]Chapter 9[/i]

Maria hummed the melody of a popular song when she entered the Crashdown. She was a little bit late for her shift, but since the Parkers were away for the first weekend of the holidays, she didn't think that bad about it. Liz was in charge now, and she was sure that her friend wouldn't be as mad at her as her dad would have been.

Everything between her and Michael was cleared up. They were together again, at least, according to her they were an item. Yesterday night, Michael had to leave a little abruptly, but Maria wasn't worried. She had Michael winded around her finger again. He was hers once more, and this time, she'd make sure that no one would come between them. No one.

"Hey Maria!" Liz greeted her.

Was that nervousness in Liz's voice? Maria wondered. Nah. Liz was never nervous. She was probably imagining it. Not something very unusual. 

After greeting Liz back, she went to the backroom with Liz on her trail.

She quickly changed in her uniform, and while putting her antennae's on, she peeked into the kitchen. "Is Michael already here?" she asked Liz.

"Yeah," was Liz's answer. "He had the early shift."

"Good," she said. "I just need to establish something."

Liz looked curiously at her and Maria saw her following her to the kitchen.

She put her arms around Michael, embracing him from behind. One hand closed itself over his eyes, blocking his sight.

"Guess who?" she whispered in his ear, happy that she was able to do this again.

"Uh…" Michael said. "Amanda… if it's you, you'll have to leave soon. My girlfriend can be here any minute."

Maria giggled, glad that Michael had referred to her as his girlfriend, and playfully slapped him on his arm.

"Ouch! That hurts!" he whined and he pretended to be in real pain.

"Aw… Poor boy…" Maria soothed him. "Where does it hurt? Let me kiss the pain away…" She caressed his face and softly kissed him on his neck.

She found it strange that he pulled away when he noticed Liz standing in the door opening, but thought nothing of it.

She gave Michael one last kiss and then traded the kitchen in for the main area of the Crashdown. It wasn't really busy yet, and after serving two meals, she had nothing to do.

Liz walked over to her, and Maria was grateful for that. She could get bored very easy, and right now, she really needed someone to talk to about her and Michael's reunion. She would have to leave her confession about Future Max out of it, though.

Or maybe she shouldn't. Maybe she'd better tell Liz at once. The truth always found a way to the light, after all. Like that one time she had stolen her mother's make-up and used it to decorate her Barbie-dolls. Her mother had found out about that, too, hadn't she?

Uh-oh.

There was Liz. She hadn't much time left to make a decision.

"Hey," Liz said.

"Hey," Maria chirped, still unsure of what to say and what not to say. She was in such a dilemma that she didn't even notice that Liz was tucking a few lost strands of hair behind her ear, a sign that she was [i]very[/i] nervous. Should she tell her or not?

'Choose Maria!' she ordered herself.

Argh!

Where was her cedar-oil when she needed it most?

"Maria, I…" Liz began hesitantly, and Maria looked up, alarmed by the uncertainty in Liz's voice.


"Umm…" Liz tried once more. "You remember what I told you yesterday?" She bent over to Maria and softened her voice a little. "About Future Max?" she continued.

Maria nodded, feeling immensely guilty. Did she already know? How? Michael had promised her to tell no one about it… He wouldn't… She throw a look at the kitchen, finding Michael staring at her, and after meeting her gaze, he guiltily looked down at the counter. He had! He was [i]soooo[/i] dead! She would flay him alive, make him eat her disreputable fish-dishes and wear pink shirts to school. She would…

"Earth to Maria…"

She suddenly became aware of Liz calling her name and waving her hand in front of her face.

"Sorry, I just… zoned out," she mumbled, afraid of what was bound to come. She had betrayed the trust of her friend, had broken their oath of secrecy and would pay for it.

"No big deal," Liz said.

"Listen, Maria, about what I said… It wasn't true. I…" Liz paused, obviously looking for the right words. "I was lying," she continued. "The whole Future-Max-thing was just one big lie. I was so ashamed about what had happened, and I…"

"Wait," Maria broke her of. "There never [i]was[/i] a Future Max? You made it all up?"

Liz nodded, looking truly sorry and scared.


"Then why did you tell me there was?" Maria asked, trying to control her anger and hurt.

Liz looked to the ground, then into the dining area, and then back to the ground again. When she started talking, she finally looked at Maria.

"Kyle… Kyle and I were… We were drunk… I…" Liz stumbled over her words.

"You were [i]drunk[/i]?" Maria asked perplexed. Liz Parker, valedictorian and goody-two-shoes had been drunk? And she hadn't been there with her friend when she'd gotten drunk for the very first time? "You were [i]drunk[/i]? she said again, still not fully comprehending it.

"Shhh…" Liz hushed her. She looked around, checking if there was anyone who might have heard Maria's words.

"Yes," she continued. "We were drunk. I was very upset about Max and all, and Kyle comforted me. One thing led to another, and well… I wanted to tell you, but I was so ashamed. It, I, I don't know what to do…" she said, panic noticeable in her voice, tears glistening in her eyes.

Maria's mother instinct won it from her anger and hurt, and she put her arm around Liz.

"Shh… It's alright, chica… Don't worry…" she looked at Liz's face, and saw more pain in her eyes than she could have ever imagined. She was truly worried about Liz now, and the pain Liz's lies was already forgotten.

"C'mon sweetie…" she whispered, and took Liz to the backroom.

She looked around, seeing a few new customers waiting for a waitress. They would have to wait. Taking care of Liz was more important right now. She noticed Michael looking at her, approving of what she was doing.

Strange.

Since when did he care for Liz? Yes, he had been nice to her lately, but his expression of worries for Liz was exceptional. She felt jealousy welling up in her, but quickly pushed that feeling away. Liz was in pain and needed help.

She supported Liz to her bedroom and helped her change into her pajamas. She took a few stuffed teddy bears from the wardrobe and put them in bed next to Liz. Then she sat down on the bed.

"Did you use, you know, birth-control?" Maria asked, worried that that might be the reason why Liz was so upset.

Liz shook her head, then nodded and shook her head again.

Maria chuckled softly and brushed the hairs of Liz's forehead away. "Well, what is it? Yes or no?"

"No," Liz replied and shook her head.

"Are you…" Maria sighed. There was no easy way to ask this. "Are you pregnant?" she asked, hoping that she didn't sound too paranoid.

Liz fervently shook her head. "No!" she said. "No. I'm not."

Maria breathed out in relief.

"So…" she began, a mischievous smile playing around her lips. "How was it? Did it hurt?"

Liz smiled weakly. "I… I don't remember…" she answered.

Maria was amazed. Liz had been to drunk to even [i]remember[/i] what had happened? This was [i]sooo[/i] not Liz-alike…

Then she thought back on the confession she had to make to Liz.

"Liz…" she started, and then decided that she'd better say it at once. "I told Michael. About the Future-Max-thing." She looked at her best friend, relieved to see that she didn't seem mad or surprised. "I'm sorry. I know I promised you I wouldn't tell anyone, but Michael…"

"It's okay, Maria," Liz interrupted her, and smiled tiredly.

"I'd better go down now. The customers are probably trying to strangle Michael to get some food…" she joked.

"And you, girlfriend," she said in her best Arnold-voice. "You are going to sleep. Now. At once."

Liz smiled again, a genuine smile this time. Maria smiled back and patted her on the head. She softly closed the door, but not before casting one last glance at Liz, not she wasn't surprised to find that Liz was already deep asleep.