Chapter Twenty-Six
She bounced up and down her arms flying in the air. She couldn't control the excitement surging throughout her as she waited impatiently for the others to show up.
"Calm down, Maria." Michael demanded as he shook his head. He was getting tired just watching.
"Come on Michael you know you're excited to." She walked up to him throwing her arms around him. "Admit it space boy. You can't wait to get the hell away from this place even if it's only for the weekend?"
Pulling her tighter into him he stared down at her. "Okay…I'll admit it. I need a break to."
"See that wasn't so hard was it?" She asked screeching as she pulled out of his hold. 'God, this is exactly what she needed, what they all needed.' She turned as his front door was suddenly open and Isabel and Kyle walked in.
"Kyle?" Maria said surprised to see him. "You're going with us?" She asked as she felt Michael's body stiffen beside her.
"I invited him." Isabel said staring across the room at Michael watching his reaction intently.
Michael took a deep breath then walked to stand in front of Kyle. He stared down at him his face emotionless. Extending his hand he waited for Kyle to take it. Kyle returned his stare for a few moments before his eyes drifted down to the hand extended towards him. It seemed like an eternity to the other two people in the room before Kyle pulled his eyes away from Michael's and took his hand.
"I'm sorry…and…thank you." Michael said before walking back over to stand by Maria. Maria smiled up at him wrapping an arm around him. Isabel released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding on a loud sigh as she smiled rotating her eyes from Michael to Kyle.
"Alright two down and two to go." Maria said into the silences that settled around them as she looked at her watch. "Okay, Isabel. I've got to know exactly what you packed because I definitely don't want to under pack."
"Oh…God." Michael groaned rolling his eyes. "Come on Kyle, why don't we start packing the car while we wait." Michael said heading to the door. If he had to stand here and listen to Maria talk about clothes he knew he would definitely go insane.
Max sat in the outer office. He felt uneasy after the events of the last time he was here. But he wouldn't dwell on that, he was going to sit here patiently and wait for her. He picked up an old copy of sports illustrated, flipped through the pages then tossed it back on the table in front of him. As the door opened he leaped to his feet and watched as she said goodbye to Ms. Foster. Closing the door she turned to him a smile on her face.
"How did it go?" He asked returning her smile as he made his way to her.
"Tiring, but everything's fine." She reassured him pulling him into her arms when he stopped in front of her.
Max held on to her closing his eyes as he took a deep breath and let it out on a loud sigh. "Are you ready to go?" He asked pulling away and staring down into her face.
"Oh…you better believe I'm ready." She said taking his hand and pulling him toward the door.
Liz, Maria and Isabel sat in front of the unlit fireplace talking as the men brought the luggage from the car. Dropping a huge suitcase down in front of them Michael glared at them a frown on his face. "You know you guys can get off your butts and help."
All three pairs of eyes shot in his direction. "Are you trying to say that you three big strapping males can't handle the few bags we brought with us?" Maria challenged as she leaned back on the sofa a smug smile on her face.
Spotting Max in the door way Liz asked. "Max do you need my help?"
"No…no…we got it." Max said smiling at her across the room.
"Kyle is there any thing I can help you with?" Isabel asked turning to watch Kyle as he struggled with the bags in his hands.
"Um…um…no…I think I got it." He made himself say as his breath caught in his throat at the smile she directed at him.
Both Max and Kyle turned away from the angry frown Michael shot their way, murmuring something about going to the car for another load. "You're whipped…" He shouted after them. "I for one won't take it."
"Michael." Maria said leaning forward capturing his eyes with hers. "I know your not going to leave my bags out in that car….now are you? Because if you are you should consider your vacation over…do you understand space boy?"
Michael closed his eyes for a second as he sighed in frustration. "Okay…okay…" He said heading to the door mumbling something about women being lazy and why the hell do they have to pack so much for just a weekend.
All three girls fell back in their seats laughing. "God…did he actually think that we were going to carry those heavy bags in?" Isabel asked through her laughter.
"Yea…I think he did." Liz said wiping at her eyes.
"Well, that's Michael for you, but you got to love him." Maria shook her head a smile on her face.
"I think you're the only one who can actually control him." Isabel said staring at her. "I've never seen him respond to anyone the way he do to you."
"Well I'll take that as a compliment." Maria said watching as they made their way inside with another load of bags.
"God…I didn't think we actually brought that much." Liz commented as she watched them head out for more bags.
"Don't you even dare think about it." Maria demanded watching Liz closely. But Liz was already on her feet heading to the door. Shaking her head she watched as she stopped in front of Max and grabbed two of the four bags he was struggling with. Watched as he smiled his thanks to her. "Oh…God…you know what this means, Isabel, don't you? Now we have to help."
"Damn…and I thought we were so in sync there for a moment." Isabel sighed getting to her feet and following Maria to the door.
He watched her ignoring the others around him. His eyes intently taking in every movement she made. His body raced with his need to be near her, to have her all alone to himself. She turned toward him, their eyes colliding. In that split second they found themselves in their own world. Where no one else existed but the two of them.
"Okay…guys." Maria said looking around her. "There's only three bedrooms in this cabin so we have to decide on the sleeping arrangements." That got Michael's and Kyle attention immediately as they suddenly stopped the card game they were playing and turned to Maria. "Don't even think about it dude." Maria said frowning at Michael.
"Yea well the next time you have your tongue rammed down my throat I'll remind you of that." He replied returning her frown.
"God…don't gross us out…please." Isabel rolled her eyes turning her attention to Kyle. "Not in your wildest dreams Kyle." Isabel said a smug smile on her face.
Holding up his hands Kyle said. "Hey I didn't say a thing."
"Okay…Liz…Max?" Maria asked turning rotating her eyes to the two of them. "That leaves the two of you." When they didn't respond to her, but kept gazing at each other she tossed her hands in the air in frustration. "Okay I give up on those two." She said dropping down on the sofa.
Grabbing his arm and shaking him Michael demanded. "What will it be Max?"
Tearing his eyes from Liz he looked at Michael confused. "What?" He demanded.
"Three rooms. Where are you and Liz sleeping?" He asked frowning at the dazed look in his eyes.
"Together." Both Liz and Max said in unison as their eyes collided once again.
"What?" Maria demanded as she jumped up from the sofa and went to Liz, pulling her to her feet. "Excuse us for a moment." She said dragging Liz out of the front door onto the porch.
Pulling her arm away Liz stared at Maria as if she'd lost her mind. "What the hell do you think your doing?" She demanded.
"No…Liz. What do you think your doing?" Maria countered staring at her in surprise. "You can't really be thinking about sleeping in the same bed as Max?"
"Come off it Maria. I left my mother back in Roswell."
"Yea…well maybe she needs to be here to slap some sense into you." She said her eyes drawn into a frown.
"It's not like Max and I have never slept the night together, Maria." She admitted turning away from the shock that flashed in Maria's eyes.
"What? When was this and why wasn't I told the moment after?" She demanded glaring at Liz as if she'd suddenly grown a second head.
"Maria…you have nothing to worry about. Max and I love each other." Liz said turning back to look at her.
"Liz…I know that, but that's not the point. There's no adult's around. I don't think it's a good idea for you to stare a room all night with him."
She laughed. "Do you think he's going to like…attack me or something?"
"No…God…Liz…you know what I'm saying here." She took a deep breath.
"Get over it Maria. I want to be with him…I need to be with him. Don't worry about me. I'm fine." She tried to reassure her, touching her arm.
"Liz…"
"I love him, Maria. I need to be close to him." She said releasing her arm and turning away looking out at the view in front of her.
"Okay…okay…you sleep, but nothing more. Do you here me?" Maria said watching her best friend. She couldn't find it in her to argue any longer. She knew that Max loved her and wouldn't do any thing that Liz didn't want him to do. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes for a moment. "Okay…Liz. If this is what you want." She said turning away and walking back into the cabin.
TBC
