Disclaimer: I don't own anything Roswell, except for a few episodes that I've taped from TV. Please don't sue!

Summary: When Maria DeLuca and Michael Guerin find each other, will they hit it off? And will they be able to overcome the one thing that he can't change?

Includes: All Roswell characters are included in this story: Alex, Isabel, Max, Michael, Liz, and Maria. Maybe others too, but I'm not sure as of yet. It's mostly a M/M fiction, but it will contains others as well.

Authors Note: Here is the second part of the update. Enjoy!

Unbroken

Chapter 4

Michael sighed, putting his books away in his locker. If he would have known that going to class would have allowed him to get the best sleep he's ever had in his entire life then he would have attended more often, without a doubt. His neck was a little sore from the way he had been sleeping, but it was good sleep nonetheless.

"Michael," Max came up beside him and Michael's face sagged with dread. He and Max hadn't been able to have a civil conversation in months. Max tried. Michael had to give him credit for that, but they always ended up disagreeing on one thing or another. It had become a routine for them until Michael began avoiding them all. "you actually came to class today. I'm shocked. What's with the sudden change? Did Principal Forrester threaten to expel you again?" Max laughed, trying to make things between them light. He didn't want to get into anything serious right now. That only ended in arguments.

Max fully realized that he and Michael had always had problems, but that didn't stop him from trying to keep in contact with his best friend. Michael and Isabel were really the only two people he completely trusted, besides Liz of course. They understood him the best because they were exactly like him. They knew how it felt to know you're different and to have to hide that from the rest of the world. Michael knew that more than anyone.

"Don't start, Maxwell. I'm not in the mood for any of your self-righteous lectures today, all right?" Michael rolled his eyes and began to walk off. To his dismay, Max followed after him.

"It was a joke, Michael. Only a joke. I was just trying to save things between us. You, me and Isabel are bonded together for life whether you want that or not. We don't need issues between any of us, got it?" Max's voice was dripping with authority. If being nice to Michael wasn't going to work then he was going to assume the position of king. Michael was beneath him in that way. He had to listen to what Max had to say then.

"Yeah, boss, I got it. So what's up? What do you want?"

"Liz actually wanted me to invite you to the Crashdown today. She wants you to meet a new friend of hers. The girl is nice, Michael. I've met her. I think you'd like her." Max presumed to tell him all about Maria. If Michael would give Maria a chance then they would get along great. Michael wasn't too good at giving people chances though.

"Yeah, that's just what I need. Another person to add to my long list of friends. I don't think so, Maxwell." Michael picked up his pace, Max speeding up to stay with him. Liz had specifically told him not to accept no for answer so he wasn't going to. One way or another Michael would be meeting them at the Crashdown later. Liz would be extremely angry if Max didn't come through for her, and that was the last thing he wanted.

"Come on, Michael. Iz will be there. She really wants to see you. Alex and Kyle also want to know how you are doing. You've basically been secluding yourself from us. They are worried about you. It would mean a lot to them if you came. If for nothing else then to at least show them that you care."

"But I don't."

"Michael, don't make me do it. You know I don't want to. We are all meeting at the Crashdown around six. Can I count on you to be there?" Max gave him a warning look, indicating what was coming next.

"You know, Max, on this planet you are not the king. You can't keep ordering me around like you are." Michael pointed out, wanting to let his friend in on the fact that he didn't appreciate always being told what to do by someone who was as unsure of himself as he was. Michael lived on his own for a reason. He never was good with answering to authority, and it became frustrating when he was forced to listen to Max always bring up his "royal status".

"Are you going to be there, Michael? You need to be there." Max insisted, sending a firm glance in Michael's direction. Michael only rolled his eyes. He knew that Max wasn't going to give up; he never did. What was the point in going around in circles with him?

Michael growled, throwing his hands up in defeat. "Fine, Max, I'll go, but I'm only staying for five minutes. And I'm only going because you so generously insisted. Otherwise, I wouldn't have given the café a second glance as I was walked passed it, got it?" Max laughed at Michael's sarcastic humor. Holding his smile, Max nodded before leaving his friend alone.

"See you later, Michael. Oh and by the way, I order you to at least try to have some fun tonight."

"Not a chance!" Michael called after him and groaned as a whole new kind of dread flooded him. The last thing he wanted was to sit around at a booth with a bunch of people and a fake smile plastered on his face. Liz should have known him better than that. She should have known that he wouldn't enjoy what she was setting up. Why did it matter so much that he meet this girl anyway? What was really going to come from him meeting one of Liz's loopy friends? Nothing that Liz was hoping for, that was for sure. It wasn't difficult to figure how just what his friend's girlfriend was up to. And Michael wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.