"Alex Whitman prepare to die!" Maria shouted out as she entered Liz's
bedroom and found no- one there.
"Alex. Liz!" She repeated but received no answer. Damn it where are they she thought. She gave herself a little pep talk and made her way back downstairs and into the café. She looked around but there were only three booths occupied and none held Liz or Alex. She turned to look at Michael silently considering weather or not to ask him if he'd seen them leave. Come on the worst is over you've spoken already so just ask him, she told herself. She made her way over to the hatch and leant over to see him banging through cupboards talking to himself about something.
"Um Michael?" She spoke up and he swung around surprised and knocked his head on the open cupboard door swearing in pain. Maria ran back through the break room and into the kitchen over to him.
"Are you okay?" She asked concerned as Michael clutched his head.
"Do I look okay to you? What is it with you surprising me today." He commented.
"Sorry. I'll get you some ice." Maria made her way back to the freezer and took out a bag of ice cubes and poured some into a tea towel and wrapped it up. She made her way back over to him and instructed that he shift his hand which he complied to reluctantly. Maria gently placed the towel over the red mark and held it there as he complained about how cold it was.
"Stop whining you big baby. Honestly you can withstand all your Czechoslovakian crap but you moan about ice." He smirked at her comment and took the towel from her hands and held it their himself as he realized their predicament and contact and he suddenly remembered that she must have come to ask him for something.
"What do you want?" he asked. She looked back at him confused and slightly angry.
"What! I don't WANT anything I was just making sure you don't get a lump their. It's called kindness, you should try it some time." She snapped rising to her feet as they were both sat on the kitchen floor.
"That's not what I meant Maria. You obviously came here to ask something in the first place THAT'S what I was asking. Defensive much." He shot back sarcastically.
"Rude much."
"Look as much as I enjoy the verbal judo I got work to do so just say whatever it is you wanted and let me get on with it." He exclaimed, his expression mirroring one of anger but he was really secretally enjoying their banter. It was something he missed but he'd never admit that to her or anyone.
"Right. Look I just came to ask you if you saw Liz or Alex leave here."
"Yeah, just before you dropped the bowl on the floor and distracted me I saw the two of them head out." He answered making his way back to the grill.
"Well why didn't you say anything!" She questioned.
"Because it wasn't really something that intrigued me enough to bring it up in conversation. Why is it a problem?" He bit back
"Yes actually it is because they left without saying anything. I don't know where they went. Look I'm going home, just let them know when they get back if you can manage that." She called out as she went back to her locker to get her car keys. She opened up the door and felt around in her work apron and found nothing. She searched around her shelf and found a note with Alex's rushed handwriting on it.
Hey Maria
We took the Jetta to Alex's so don't fret. Have fun with Michael. You'll thank us for this later. See you tomorrow.
Luv Alex and Liz
Maria screwed up the note and threw it back into her locker and slammed it shut. Michael came stomping back in frowning.
"What's with the slamming? I thought you'd gone already."
"I was going to but they took my car Michael. I'm gonna have to walk home." Maria explained throwing her denim jacket over Liz's lilac tank top.
"No your not." He insisted making his way back to the kitchen.
"What do you mean no I'm not." She asked following him.
"You can't walk home at quarter to twelve on a Friday night by yourself. There'll be drunks out." He answered taking a coke out of the fridge and snapping it open then taking a sip.
"Then how pray tell do you suggest I get home. The buses have stopped running at this time and I don't have money or the number for a taxi." She replied pushing herself up and sitting on the countertop.
"I'll walk you home at the end of my shift. Just don't get any ideas or anything cos it doesn't mean anything I just don't want you getting attacked or anything."
His words both stung and warmed her. She reached over to take his can of coke and took a sip then placed it back down ignoring his growl of complaint.
"You don't finish till three am then you've gotta clean the kitchen and lock up." She pointed out watching him flip some burgers.
"I know, but you can help clean up since I'm actually attempting that ' bring nice' thing you suggested earlier." He referred and she smiled.
"Sure." She replied then went to fetch some more ice- cream from the fridge then returned to her sitting position and eat it whilst watching Michael work and cook him and her food along the way. Neither rally conversing much except for exchanging banter and sarcastic comments occasionally.
"Alex. Liz!" She repeated but received no answer. Damn it where are they she thought. She gave herself a little pep talk and made her way back downstairs and into the café. She looked around but there were only three booths occupied and none held Liz or Alex. She turned to look at Michael silently considering weather or not to ask him if he'd seen them leave. Come on the worst is over you've spoken already so just ask him, she told herself. She made her way over to the hatch and leant over to see him banging through cupboards talking to himself about something.
"Um Michael?" She spoke up and he swung around surprised and knocked his head on the open cupboard door swearing in pain. Maria ran back through the break room and into the kitchen over to him.
"Are you okay?" She asked concerned as Michael clutched his head.
"Do I look okay to you? What is it with you surprising me today." He commented.
"Sorry. I'll get you some ice." Maria made her way back to the freezer and took out a bag of ice cubes and poured some into a tea towel and wrapped it up. She made her way back over to him and instructed that he shift his hand which he complied to reluctantly. Maria gently placed the towel over the red mark and held it there as he complained about how cold it was.
"Stop whining you big baby. Honestly you can withstand all your Czechoslovakian crap but you moan about ice." He smirked at her comment and took the towel from her hands and held it their himself as he realized their predicament and contact and he suddenly remembered that she must have come to ask him for something.
"What do you want?" he asked. She looked back at him confused and slightly angry.
"What! I don't WANT anything I was just making sure you don't get a lump their. It's called kindness, you should try it some time." She snapped rising to her feet as they were both sat on the kitchen floor.
"That's not what I meant Maria. You obviously came here to ask something in the first place THAT'S what I was asking. Defensive much." He shot back sarcastically.
"Rude much."
"Look as much as I enjoy the verbal judo I got work to do so just say whatever it is you wanted and let me get on with it." He exclaimed, his expression mirroring one of anger but he was really secretally enjoying their banter. It was something he missed but he'd never admit that to her or anyone.
"Right. Look I just came to ask you if you saw Liz or Alex leave here."
"Yeah, just before you dropped the bowl on the floor and distracted me I saw the two of them head out." He answered making his way back to the grill.
"Well why didn't you say anything!" She questioned.
"Because it wasn't really something that intrigued me enough to bring it up in conversation. Why is it a problem?" He bit back
"Yes actually it is because they left without saying anything. I don't know where they went. Look I'm going home, just let them know when they get back if you can manage that." She called out as she went back to her locker to get her car keys. She opened up the door and felt around in her work apron and found nothing. She searched around her shelf and found a note with Alex's rushed handwriting on it.
Hey Maria
We took the Jetta to Alex's so don't fret. Have fun with Michael. You'll thank us for this later. See you tomorrow.
Luv Alex and Liz
Maria screwed up the note and threw it back into her locker and slammed it shut. Michael came stomping back in frowning.
"What's with the slamming? I thought you'd gone already."
"I was going to but they took my car Michael. I'm gonna have to walk home." Maria explained throwing her denim jacket over Liz's lilac tank top.
"No your not." He insisted making his way back to the kitchen.
"What do you mean no I'm not." She asked following him.
"You can't walk home at quarter to twelve on a Friday night by yourself. There'll be drunks out." He answered taking a coke out of the fridge and snapping it open then taking a sip.
"Then how pray tell do you suggest I get home. The buses have stopped running at this time and I don't have money or the number for a taxi." She replied pushing herself up and sitting on the countertop.
"I'll walk you home at the end of my shift. Just don't get any ideas or anything cos it doesn't mean anything I just don't want you getting attacked or anything."
His words both stung and warmed her. She reached over to take his can of coke and took a sip then placed it back down ignoring his growl of complaint.
"You don't finish till three am then you've gotta clean the kitchen and lock up." She pointed out watching him flip some burgers.
"I know, but you can help clean up since I'm actually attempting that ' bring nice' thing you suggested earlier." He referred and she smiled.
"Sure." She replied then went to fetch some more ice- cream from the fridge then returned to her sitting position and eat it whilst watching Michael work and cook him and her food along the way. Neither rally conversing much except for exchanging banter and sarcastic comments occasionally.