"Michael, where the hell are the pop tarts?" Maria's voice pierced his reverie.
"What on earth are you doing?" Maria exclaimed in disbelief. She had walked into the bedroom after toiling around in the kitchen, searching in vain for the pop tarts, only to find Michael standing buck naked on the bed, surveying the room.
"I'm trying something out." He glanced in her direction, giving her a rye smile.
She giggled then clammered onto the bed herself. Michael noticed that Maria still wore his Metallica shirt that she had pulled on this morning after dragging herself out of bed.
"What are you trying out, exactally?" She was barely containing her laughter now.
He turned to her, a serious look on his face. "I could feel where you were in the house. Somehow, I just knew. When I woke up, and you were still asleep, I felt your peace. I remember being in your dream, sharing it with you. You were dreaming about Mexico and the trip. We were on the beach, just the two of us, making love in the sand at sunset. I was there, not like when Isabel dreamwalks and you're just watching, not noticed. I was the Michael that you were touching on the beach." There was a far away look in his eyes as if he was still lost in the illusion.
"Are you saying that you can, like, tell what's going on in my mind wherever you or I am?"
"Kind of. It's more like I can sense where you are, what you're feeling, what you're thinking. All the time."
"So our minds are linked. Wow! I'll bet it's a side effect if our bonding."
"Can you feel me?" Michael looked deep into her eyes, down into her heart.
"In here I can." She lay her hand over her heart, between her breasts. "I can feel your essence, your joy, your confusion, your doubts, your love. When I search for them, I hear your thoughts. It's comforting, for you to always be with me."
He placed his hand over hers and together they closed their eyes. Reality shifted, and together the couple emerged in their dreamscape a land locked away in their bond, an escape from the outside world, their sanctuary.
"Maria…"
"Michael, Maria, hurry up! We're gonna be late if you two don't put your libido on hold until after school!" Taja's shout was heard directly behind their door.
"Damn you, Taja. You are truly the devil's spawn."
"Hey! Don't hate me because I'm beautiful, hate me because your boyfriend thinks so."
"That's some Alabama shit, Taja. Now go make us some food, woman."
"Yeah, maybe you know where the Poptarts are." Maria laughed as she spoke to the girl who had become as close to a sister as Liz was to her.
"Uhhhh…" The guilt was evident in her voice.
"God, try to sound a little less obvious, huh?"
"Okay, okay, but quit your bitching and hurry the hell up."
"Now it's time for you to put some clothes on, Michael."
"Awwww, but why?"
