2 months later
"Have you noticed how quiet Maria has gotten?" Tess asked Kyle as they ate their lunch at the Crashdown. Since that day two months ago, Maria, Alex, Kyle and herself had formed a close friendship and it made her happy. Befriending Maria had been the best thing she had ever done. Kyle thought the same with Alex. Those two had hung out considerably since the talk they had outside, both of which still wouldn't tell the girls what it was about though. But they had become great friends and Kyle actually had all the other football players talk to Alex too, and with the help of a make over from herself and Maria, Alex had actually become quite the stud at school.
Kyle nodded. "Yeah but Alex said it was nothing to worry about. She'd tell us if there was something wrong anyway," he said, munching on his burger. He watched as Isabel and Max entered the Crashdown. "You noticed how they," he said pointing at the two now joined by Liz, "hardly talk to us anymore?"
"I think it's because of me, and maybe Maria." Tess said, then, as an after thought, "and possibly you." Kyle replied with a muffled indignant 'hey' and Tess giggled. "No I mean think about it. They don't like me for obvious reasons and I'm okay with that, Max hates you and you're okay with it," she said and Kyle nodded. He could care less if Max hated him, "and well, Michael can hardly stand to be in the same room as Maria so…" she trailed off.
"You think that's why Maria is so quiet?" Kyle asked with a mouth full of food and Tess glared at him.
"For future reference Kyle," she said sweetly before yelling, "Finish before you speak." Kyle rolled his eyes and Tess sighed. She had been trying to no avail to get Kyle to learn table manners but none of them had managed to stick yet. She shook her head. "I don't get what you mean anyway. What do they have to do with anything?"
Swallowing before he spoke, he motioned towards the three. "Well didn't they all used to be close to Alex and Maria? I get the feeling that Alex really doesn't care that they haven't spoken but what about Maria? She's probably sad or whatever that they haven't really been speaking to her."
Tess thought about what he had said then nodded. "It would explain a few things," she mused aloud and before she could continue, Isabel and Liz had walked over and sat in front of them.
"What are you two talking about?" Liz asked.
Tess was about to tell her it was none of her business when Kyle opened his mouth first. "We were just discussing how quiet Maria has gotten lately." Tess threw a glare at him and Isabel shrugged.
"She's probably still pining over Michael or something," she said in a dismissive tone. "I don't care anyway."
Looking disdainfully at the girl, Kyle narrowed his eyes at her. "How, after everything she has done for you, can you still not like Maria? What has she done to you?" he asked then left, telling Tess he'd see her at home.
Once he had left the Crashdown, Isabel turned to the two girls. "Well that was rude."
Tess rolled her eyes at the ice princess. "He has a point you know," she mumbled but Isabel didn't hear, instead finding her nails more interesting.
However Liz did hear her comment. "Why do you care so much about Maria anyway?"
Snapping her head to the side, Tess looked at Liz then shook her head. "Because she's my friend, but I think what you really need to ask yourself Liz, is why don't you care?"
Liz grabbed Isabel and left the table in a huff. Max walked up behind them and asked Liz what was wrong. After telling him, Max asked, "Well why haven't you and Maria spoken lately?"
"Well because she has been spending so much time with Tess. Tess stole Maria away from me and Maria doesn't seem to mind so why should I talk to her?" Liz said angrily.
Max sighed, even though Liz was angry, he knew that she did really miss Maria's friendship. "Because you're her friend Liz, her best friend actually and you need her. Don't let the fact that her and Tess are friends get in the way of your friendship."
Mulling over her boyfriend's words, she nodded. "Yeah you're right. Maybe I'll go and see her later." Max kissed her on the forehead and let her go back to work while he rejoined Isabel at their booth.
*~*~*~*
"So we're going to Las Cruses in two weeks to play there and…"
Maria tuned Alex out as he went on about a gig his band had gotten earlier that day. For the past week she hadn't really been feeling that well and wanted nothing more than to just sleep.
"…Maria are you okay?" Alex asked and Maria shook her head. He noticed how pale she had gotten and felt her forehead. "You look pale but don't have a fever, how do you feel?"
"Like I'm going to be sick, that and very tired," she said as she yawned. Alex put his guitar on the ground beside her bed, lay down and patted his chest. Maria smiled and leaned her body down until it rested beside him with her head on his chest. She sighed as she made herself comfortable before falling asleep as Alex stroked her hair softly.
Alex looked down at his friend in worry. Lately she had gotten very quiet and even Kyle had noticed it, but both had concluded that it was because Maria was missing her friendship with the others since they had not been talking to her. He made a mental note to talk to her when she woke and too felt himself start to fall asleep.
*~*~*~*
Michael watched as the two talked then lay down on the bed, her on his chest much like the way she had laid on his all those nights ago. Jealousy ran through him when he saw Alex stroke and play with her hair. He should be the only one to do it. He then scolded himself for thinking that way. Maria was no longer his, he gave that right up a long time ago, and anyway, her and Alex were only friends right? He nodded to himself. 'Yeah, just friends.'
He glanced at the two sleeping forms again before finally heading off. He didn't know what made him want to go to her window in the first place. He just had an overwhelming urge to see her. He shook his head as he entered his apartment. He had to let it go, he had to let her go. She'd be safer that way.
*~*~*~* The next day
Maria woke suddenly, covered her mouth than ran to the bathroom, slamming the door and awaking Alex who was in the middle of a nice dream. "Maria?" he called out. He then grimaced when he heard her throwing up. He stood and rubbed his face as he walked towards the door. He knocked, "Maria?" He listened as she threw up again. "Maria I'm going to get you something to drink and one of those tablet thingy's your mom has okay?" When he received a mumbled 'okay' he left to go downstairs.
Inside the bathroom, Maria stood and flushed the toilet wondering why she was feeling so sick. Now was not the best time. She had work and school assignments to do and couldn't afford to get sick. She washed her face and glanced at herself in the mirror, wincing at her pale appearance. Shaking her head, she walked out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. Lying on the bed, she waited for Alex to get back. Hopefully whatever she had was only one of those 24-hour things. She rolled over and for some reason an image of Michael and herself fluttered into her mind. The way he called her beautiful as he kissed her. She wondered if he still felt that way, if he even thought about her.
She sighed and closed her eyes. Thinking about him was a bad idea. Every time she did she ended up crying. She was brought out of her thoughts when Alex entered the room and she smiled gratefully as he handed her a glass of ginger ale.
"There," he said. "That should help."
*~*~*~* Later that day
"Maria I really don't think you should be working," Alex said, concerned when Maria brought him, Kyle and Tess their food.
"I told you I feel fine, it must have been a stress thing or something," she told him but he looked unconvinced. "Alex, I'm fine."
Alex nodded and picked up a fry. "Fine but if you start to feel sick again, tell me okay?"
Maria nodded. "I promise," she said with a smile and suddenly Kyle laughed. They all turned to look at him in confusion.
"Have you ever realised how the antenna wobble every time she nods? It's funny." Tess and Alex rolled their eyes at him while Maria put her hands on her hips.
"Well I'm so glad that I have become some sort of amusement for you Kyle," she snapped. "Shall I go around nodding all the time so you can laugh at me some more? Huh? Should I?" she yelled as she flung her arms around.
Kyle was taken aback by her tone, as were Tess and Alex. Why was she getting so upset? "Is it that time of the month Maria?" Kyle asked.
Her head snapped up to look at him and she frowned. "Enjoy your meal," she mumbled before racing off into the back room. She opened her locker and pulled out her mini calendar and started counting the days from her last period, her last period that happened 2 months ago. She looked at herself in the mirror and whispered, "Oh no."
"Maria what the hell is a matter with you?" Alex asked as he barged into the back then stopped suddenly as he saw Maria's face pale once again. "Damn it girly, I knew you should have stayed at home. Come on," he said grabbing her hand. When she didn't budge Alex turned and looked at her. "What is it Maria, we need to get you home."
"Alex, I'm late," she whispered.
Alex furrowed his brows. "For what?"
Maria turned her tear filled eyes towards him and didn't bother to wipe the one away that had fallen. Alex looked at his friend then his eyes caught a glimpse of the calendar than lay in her right hand. "Well shit," he said, as he finally understood what she had meant. Maria started to cry and he pulled her into his arms for a bone-crushing hug. "Shhh," he said, trying to comfort her.
Shaking her head, she mumbled into his chest, "Will you come with me to get a pregnancy test tonight? We'll need to go a few towns over so no one will know."
Alex nodded. "Of course I will. Don't worry Maria, It'll all be okay, I promise," he said and kissed the crown of her head. "It'll all be okay." Maria tried to hold the sobs in but it became harder and harder so she let them come. Alex tightened his hold on her and felt his eyes start to water. He couldn't believe that this was happening to his friend, to his Maria. She didn't deserve this. His heart clenched as she let out another sob into the crook of his neck. He made a promise to himself then and there to always be there for Maria, no matter what happened. If there were anyone she could count on, it would be him, no matter what.
TBC…