'A part of me always envied Maria's relationship with Michael. There was a spark between them, a fire,that Max and I didn't have. Sure, we loved each other more than life itself, but we were always in control... Max and I hurt each other in ways that Maria and Michael couldn't even dream of, yet Maria and Michael were always the ones with the "volatile" relationship. They got angry, they yelled and kicked, and fought... whereas Max and I, we hurt each other through whispers, caresses, unintention, and misunderstandings. And a part of me wanted the fight, the hurt, that Maria had with Michael. Because it was so much easier to mend, to ignore, and to forgive.

How do you forgive someone who's love (though vital to your existence)is what hurts you in the first place?'

-from the later journals of Elizabeth Parker


"You're late again," Maria scolded Michael as he walked into the diner. Her antennas bobbed back and forth on her head as she weaved effortlessly around the tables to meet him.

"I'm sorry, I was..." he broke off. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Maria asked, confused.

"Walk in between the tables like that. It's like, you could do it blindfolded or like the tables could move to get in your way but they never do because you're always a step ahead of them. I don't get it." Maria's smile warmed him to the core.

"I'd say 'magic' if that were the case, but truth be told I probably could walk the Crashdown blindfolded. I don't know if I can explain it properly, but when I work it's kind of like the cafe and I become one single entity." she explained as they walked into the back room. Michael thought he understood what she meant. He threw on a bandana and his apron and Maria laughed. "Another reason I can do that is because I'm female. Girls are basically made to do crazy stuff like that. Walk in a straight line, never bump into tables... yeah, we're talented alright."

Michael laughed at this too, and suddenly realized there was truth in Maria's words. Liz could do it even better than Maria, probably because she had lived above the restaurant her whole life. Courtney and Agnes had both mastered the art of "table weaving" as well. Even Isabel did fairly well when she got out of the booth, but Michael and even Max always managed to bump their hips on the edge of the table. It was a talent only females seemed to possess. He'd have to ask Alex about that later, Michael thought as he flipped burgers. Then he remembered what Kyle had told him earlier about Liz. He had every intention of following her to wherever she was going on Friday. Yeah he'd take his bike but stay far enough behind her not to be noticed and-

"Michael, I was thinking we could go to a movie Friday night. I'll even let you pick since I did last time-" Maria started.

"Can't," Michael cut her off. "Got stuff to take care of."

"Like what?" Maria pouted. "I go out on a limb and actually say I'm sorry and that we should try to work things out and you-"

"Maria, you didn't say any of that. All you said was, 'Want to go to the movies Friday?' Besides, I'm not even supposed to be fraternizing with you OR in the Crashdown and I'm doing both right now."

"You can come in to work, that doesn't count. And I am trying to apologize for biting your head of so if you could manage to not be a dick for maybe 5 minutes, it would be greatly appreciated. I know you were just doing what you thought was right."

"So were you I suppose. But whose pain were you trying to prevent? Liz's or Max's?"

Maria thought for a moment. "Both, I imagine," she said softly. "So what's so important that you can't postpone it a day and hang out with me instead?"

"Something that's only occurring on Fridays," he said sarcastically. He anticipated her next remark, but still flinched when she said it.

"Can I come with?"

"No!" Michael said a little too quickly. "Um, its uh... alien related and I don't want to have to keep an eye on you" he made up quickly off the top of his head.

"Ah, well all you had to do was say so," Maria said. Michael smiled, relieved.

"Oh, but that would make sense."

"Yeah, and I'm the sense maker." Maria winked at him, and then sobered. "I am sorry, you know."

"I know. But not as sorry as I am. I made you a promise that I didn't keep, and there's no excuse for that. But I felt like it was something Max really needed to know."

"I understand completely. I probably would have done the same thing if I had been in your shoes," Maria said.

"So we're both sorry."

"Yeah, and we're both forgiven."

"Right... any chance you'll tell me the rest of what happened?"

"No chance in hell."

"Didn't think so, but I had to try."