A/N- Although I only got two reviews on the first chapter, I will prevail because I love this story, and I really don't want it to end. Writing this story is like sharing every single concert I've ever been to and as I mentioned before, I love concerts- they've changed my life. So, here's the new chapter. Much longer than I intended, but I guess that's a good thing. :) Please review, it helps so much more than you could believe. Oh, and don't worry, I didn't make Michael into a bad guy!
"Walking down this hill tonight I had a thought, it was my own and then the moon swept by the clouds and saved the starlight. Oh shall I be or shall I not be? I don't know, I just don't feel like it tonight."
-Travis
Maria fumbled with the keys in her hands, the cell phone on the other side of the door striking a rhythm with its persistent rings.
"Come on, come on," she mumbled, finally jamming the key into the lock and opening the door. She burst into the dark hotel room and fumbled for the phone by the side of the bed. "Hello?" She asked breathlessly, closing the door behind her and perching on the bed.
"Hey, baby," the voice murmured. At the sound of his deep voice she felt the smile warming on her cheeks.
"Hey yourself," she laughed, kicking her shoes off and nudging them under the bed with her feet. She leaned back on the headboard and closed her eyes. "How are things back home?"
He sighed and she imagined him sitting there, his eyes sad, running his fingers through his shaggy hair. "Lonesome without you."
She felt her heart drop. "I'm sorry Kyle. I know it's hard, but I had to come. I just-"
He broke her off with a low laugh, "don't worry about it Ria. I know why you left. I also know that this is a great opportunity for you, and I know that you're going to be amazing. So don't you worry about me. We're all going to be just fine here without you. You need to spread your wings."
Hours later- on the other side of town
Michael leaned his head back on the pillow, staring out into the darkness surrounding him. He felt the sweat from the days work drying on his skin and he let out a sigh, feeling his muscles relax with each coming minute. He knew the world had been asleep for hours, and he felt the stillness of the darkness that only existed in the wee hours of the morning when the night was ending and the new day would soon begin. Sleep had become more and more of a rarity for him as the days past. He wished so hard for sleep, but knew that it wouldn't come for him. As each day went by, the nights stretched longer and longer into almost infinite amounts of time. He'd watch the glowing numbers on the clock flick forward every sixty seconds- watching the night pass by him.
A picture of Maria rushed quickly into his mind, and for a moment he wondered what she was dreaming of at that moment. Although he knew it wasn't him, his mind still lingered on the thought. He thought of their walk down the lonely Roswell streets and sighed. He'd heard through the grapevine that she had someone waiting for her back home. He knew it was wrong... but this made him yearn even more.
Michael felt the sick sensation of deceit sliding deep within him. He knew what was going to happen and he couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face. It was the feeling of control slowly seizing him again. He used to live for this control, but it had been so long since it had clutched his heart in this way. As he lay in his bed, a sly smile fixed on his face, he could feel the control easing back into him. As much as he pushed it away, he couldn't stop what he was born to feel.
Days later
A week and a half flew by in a flurry of rehearsals and long hours of practice. Maria worked long into the night with Max, memorizing the chords and training her fingers to fly over the notes. It was hard work, but Maria thrived on it.
As she spent the days in Roswell, she got to know each one of the band members better. She felt like she'd been allowed a key into their lives. Liz told her the story of her romance with Max. She'd been banished from her house because of their deep love and commitment, only to find her niche managing the band and scheduling concert dates. They ran the music store during their off periods, and devoted their lives to the band when they toured. She'd learned of Isabel, Max's sister. Her stories of love and loss. Her on again-off again relationship with crazy Alex who always cracked jokes. Maria sometimes watched Alex when he grew silent as he leaned back, listening to the group talk. No matter how many jokes he cracked, he couldn't hide the far away look in his eyes when he looked at Isabel. She learned of Michael who'd been cast from every place he'd ever been allowed to call a home. Thrown from house to house, it had hardened the edges in his face. When she looked into his eyes, she saw the shield that years of neglect had formed.
They were such an amazing group and they welcomed her with such open arms. After only twelve days she felt like she'd known them for years. After the third day, she'd left the motel and moved her things into the empty room in Isabel's apartment. She now felt at home in Roswell, and at home with a group of people she hardly knew.
The tour loomed on the horizon and was met with great anticipation by everyone in the group. They slowly began to pack up their lives and get ready to head on the road. Eventually, time rolled to a stop, and as the sun rose, they packed their lives into the small bus that was to be home for the next months.
Maria looked at the bus as the people moved around her. It was small, but it was enough. The group had bought it years ago, and they'd used it on all their tours. The bus would house them and a small trailer attached to the back that held their equipment.
"Hello Miss Maria," the voice said behind her and she turned to see Alex wandering up behind her.
She smiled, "hey Alex."
"So, you ready for all of this?" He asked with a laugh. "Life on the road with Early Morning Sunset is fun of course, but we're crazy."
Maria laughed and looked back toward the bus. "Yeah, I think I'll be able to handle it. I love touring, I love playing shows. I just love… music. I'm really excited about all of this."
He smiled, the sarcasm in his eyes being replaced with sincerity. "Well Maria DeLuca, I look forward to this tour as well. I think we're all going to get along just fine." He looked toward the bus as well and held out his hand. "Now, let's board this bus and get on the road."
Maria laughed and took his hand and the walked around to the entrance of the bus. They stepped through and Maria looked at her surroundings. The driver's seat was at the front, accompanied by a passenger seat. Directly behind that there was the living quarters. A small kitchenette attached to a living room area with two couches on each wall and a TV mounted to the wall. Behind that was a door to sleeping area where there were three bunks stacked on each wall. Behind the sleeping area was a small bathroom.
"Well, here it is. Home sweet home," Alex announced as they both walked into the bus. The others were already sprawled around the sitting area, their eyes fixed on the movie playing on the television. Max climbed up the steps behind them and took a seat at the wheel.
"Well," he said, looking back. "I guess we're off!" His statement was met by cheers as he turned on the engine, and started down the street. The tour finally began.
That night
It took them only a few hours to reach the first town. They were playing local, small bars and clubs. Although Early Morning Sunset still played in small buildings, each one of their shows had already sold out.
They were playing in a bar in a small town outside of Santa Fe. They arrived at around five and started setting up their equipment. The bar was toward the front and there was a wall with a door that separated it from the small makeshift stage and concert hall toward the back that was built for about three hundred concert-goers.
By seven the room was full and the smoke hung thick in the air. Maria peered through the curtain at the crowd and felt her stomach drop. Large crowds had always made her nervous, especially when playing with a new band for the first time.
"Don't worry Maria, you'll be great." Max said, coming up behind her. She turned and smiled at him. "I know it's nerve wracking, but you're amazing and you know the chords so well. You're going to rock."
"Thanks Max," she said. The others slowly began to group around them and they formed a small circle.
"Alright guys. This is the first show of the new tour. Are we going to rock?" A chorus of screams followed him and Max put his hand in the center. They all piled their hands in the center and closed their eyes for a brief moment of silence. "Then let's do this." He yelled. Maria could feel the electricity between them all as they took the stage.
Maria played flawlessly, and the crowd responded to the band with amazing devotion. After the second song, they stopped for a moment to retune and Max spoke into the microphone.
"We're so pumped to see you all again! It's been too long since we've been on the road, and I've definitely missed this." Screams followed his statement and he laughed, lightly plucking his guitar to tune it. "Since we have a minute, I should introduce you all to four of the greatest people I know. Well, I'm Max," he said and laughed as a few girls whistled and screamed. "In the back corner there is Alex Manes. Right next to him on keyboards is my lovely sister, Isabel Evans. Hiding behind the drum set back there is Michael Guerin. I'm especially pleased to introduce to you the lovely lady on my right who probably doesn't look too familiar to everyone. Maria DeLuca is our new bass guitarist."
He finished the introductions and the crowd broke out into screams and applause again. He laughed, taking a swig from the water bottle at his feet. "Alright, now that that shit's out of the way, how about some music? We're Early Morning Sunset, and this one's called Winding Road," the chords started up again and Maria closed her eyes, getting swept away in the feeling she'd grown to love.
Later that night
The whole group exited the stage in a rush. They decided that after showers they would hit one of the clubs downtown. They all showered and got ready and an hour later, they headed out for the club. They laughed and joked as they walked down the dark sidewalks. Their laughter filled the evening, a jovial feeling of warmth and acceptance wrapped around Maria.
They'd been told about a small but fun dance club only a few blocks from the bar, and when they got there it was already packed and lively. They made their way through security and Alex pushed open the doors. The group emptied out into the dark club. Loud techno music bounced off the walls, vibrating through the floor and bright lights lit up the mass of bodies on the dance floor.
The group dispersed into separate directions and Maria headed to the side where a small bar sat. She perched on one of the chairs and stared out toward the dance floor. She saw Max and Liz entwined, moving melodically to the beat of the music. As she watched, her mind wandered to Kyle, so far away. She felt her heart ache as she remembered the way he'd looked at her on her last day in Marshall. He hadn't been able to hide the disappointment in his eyes and it had made her hurt to know that it lurked so deep within him. There was so much they could never say, so many memories that they'd shared. She'd been with him for so long that being without him for these months almost seemed impossible.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and she spun to see Alex behind her. He leaned forward and put his mouth near her ear. "Come on baby," he said in a deep voice, "we're dancing."
Maria laughed and jumped up from the stool as he took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor.
Michael stood, leaning against the wall away from the dancers. He watched Maria's face light up as Alex spun her around. He saw the laughter in her eyes as she danced, and he yearned to be near her and place his hand where Alex's lay on the small of her back. Slowly he pushed himself away from the wall and made his way through the crowd. He tapped Alex on the shoulder and the pair turned toward him.
"Can I cut in?" He yelled over the music.
Alex laughed and nodded, "Fine, fine, fine Guerin. Can't get your own girls so you're stealing mine? I see how it goes." He joked, slapping the other man on the shoulder.
Maria smiled and leaned toward Alex, "go find Isabel," she said, just loud enough for him to her. He smiled sweetly at her before walking away.
She turned toward Michael and he raised his eyebrows, a questioning smile on his face. He held out his hand and she took it. Slowly, he drew her body nearer to his. Their eyes caught one last time before the music took over and they quickly gave into the sensation.
At the same time
Liz took a sip from her drink and fanned herself, laughing as she looked toward Max. She stopped when she saw the distant look in his eye as he stared off into the crowd. "What is it, Max?" She asked, concerned.
"Look," he said, nodding his head toward the dance floor. She turned and saw what he was staring at. Maria and Michael moved rhythmically on the dance floor, their eyes closed and bodies moving closer together with every beat. "Can you believe that?" He asked, sighing. "Not again."
Liz shook her head as she watched the two. "Max, it could be different..." her voice trailed off.
"It's never different, Liz. You know that and I know that. It never is."
Back on the dance floor
Maria closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of Michael's body so close to hers as they danced. The music carried them away as they moved; the heat of the night increasing with every beat of the music. Their bodies slowly grew closer together, drawn by the force of the music and the desire to feel again. Maria's eyes closed tightly, feeling him so near to her, grinding slowly to the music surrounding them, erasing every thought of Kyle she'd had at the beginning of the night.
Michael exhaled, feeling Maria's body winding into his as they danced. The passion of the evening carried them away as they entwined, falling deeper and deeper into the melody. He ran his hands through her light hair, and felt as she leaned into him. The sensation was intoxicating, making him forget for a brief moment the reason he'd asked her to dance in the first place, numbing him from all of his thoughts as he got lost in the feeling of her.
The music ended abruptly and the two pulled away. Maria smiled, pulling her hair out of her eyes as she looked at him.
"I'll be right back," he called as another song started. She nodded and began to head toward the bar. Michael made his way slowly toward the bathroom. The music grew fainter and fainter as he walked away from the dance floor.
He felt a hand grab his arm and he spun to see Max standing near him, a look in his eye. "Hey Max," Michael said casually, reaching for the door handle.
"Michael," Max said stopped him and Michael turned toward him. Max's eyes were hard, staring straight through him. "Michael, don't do it. Not to her."
Michael felt his heart drop as he shook his head. "What the hell are you talking about, Maxwell?" He asked, pretending he had no idea what Max was talking about.
"Don't do it again. Not to Maria. Just… just don't." Max pleaded, his eyes softening as he looked at Michael. "I know you don't want to do this."
Michael glared at him, angered at the fact that Max could see so deep into his motives. "Lay off, Max. You have no idea what you're talking about." He yanked his arm away and entered the near-deserted bathroom.
He leaned slowly up against the sink, looking at his blurry reflection in the dirty mirror. Max's words echoed through his brain and he sighed, shaking his head. Max could never understand the complexities in Michael's heart. He didn't even know what he was doing anymore; all he knew was that he couldn't drag this girl down with him. Max was right, as much as Michael didn't want to admit it. He slowly turned, exiting the bathroom. He pushed his way through the crowd, forcing himself not to look toward where he knew Maria was. He walked out the doors and into the night air. The rain fell lightly around him and he lowered his head, allowing the rain to wash away the sweat on his skin and the sins in his heart. He walked down the sidewalk, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He made his way back to the bus without a word, disappearing into the dark night.