A/N- Sorry, I know it's been forever. I've been on winter break, and therefore I was back at my parents' house in another city. It made writing a lot more strained… not that that's a good excuse, but at least it's an excuse. Here is the new chapter. Thank you to the reviewers, please keep it up because I seriously love this story and I really want to keep going. Thank you!

Chapter 3

"I can't sleep 'cause it hurts when I think my thoughts aren't at peace with the plans that we make, the chances we take. They're not yours, they're not mine. There's waves that can break all the words that we said and the words that we mean. Words can fall short, can't see the unseen 'cause the world is awake for somebody's sake. Now please close your eyes. Woman, please get some sleep and know that if I knew all of the answers I would not hold them from you." –Jack Johnson, "No Other Way"

The days trickled by and the list of cities grew longer. They drove by night and arrived in a new city each day. Sometimes they would pause long enough to have a day off and rest their tired eyes, but they prevailed. As the days went by, it became more and more clear to Maria that Michael was avoiding her. They shared the same small living quarters, but they didn't speak for over a week.

He'd disappeared that night into the darkness and left Maria alone at the club. He'd wandered back to the bus and lay in his bunk for hours tracing the lines of Maria's face over and over in his mind, cursing himself for past mistakes and the evil he knew still lurked in his heart. He closed his eyes and saw her on the dance floor, her blond hair falling around her face as their bodies entwined. He slowly let himself remember the feelings that had taken over his heart- the deceit dissolving away with every beat of the music. His intentions moving slowly from those of the past to those of purity with every second that passed. Of course Max had seen it- Max could always see the things in him that he couldn't face in himself.

He laid in silence, turning the events over in his mind until he heard another enter the bus. Instinctively he knew it was Maria, but he made no move to pull the curtain and speak to her. He couldn't- not after what he'd felt in his heart again. At that moment he'd understood that the only thing to do would be to let her go and ignore her. Maria was innocent, while he would forever be guilty. Maria had someone back home waiting for her, and he knew deep in his heart that when the tour ended she would go back to him. He knew it was useless to hope anything different. Neither of them could live if he was always feeling the way he'd felt on the dance floor that night.

So he allowed days to pass without Maria. They lived their interconnected lives separately. Only during the concerts did the electricity between them ever allow itself to reveal. Maria would stand off to the side, her fingers running over the chords effortlessly. She would stand with her eyes closed, feeling the music stirring something deep within her. She could sense his eyes on her and occasionally she would turn to look and catch his eyes. For a moment they would stare at each other eye to eye, the music that had become their lives pounding around them. In the music, they allowed themselves a pleasure that they would never allow themselves by day- the pleasure of truly looking the other in the eye.

But life went on, and the tour moved forward. One night, days after their dance at the club, Maria lay in her bunk in restless silence. The others had been asleep for some time, but she could feel the energy still running through her veins and knew it would be hours before sleep would come to her. She felt the wheels of the bus rolling under her as it moved toward the next city.

She quietly pulled the curtain back from her bunk and swung her legs over, easing herself to the floor. She walked slowly through the door, closing it behind her and then proceeded toward the front of the bus.

"Hey," she said quietly, coming up beside Max.

"Hey Maria," he greeted her with a smile.

Maria looked at the passenger's seat and let out a small laugh as she saw Liz curled up in a ball asleep. "I see she's not doing such a good job of keeping you company." She gently put her hand on Liz's shoulder, watching the girl stir and open her eyes. "Liz, go to sleep. I'll keep Max company."

Liz yawned, stretching her arms above her. She smiled, "Thanks Ria." She stood up and leaned over quickly, kissing Max on the cheek. "Night Max."

"Goodnight Liz, get some sleep." He said, glancing back as she walked toward the bunks. Maria took a seat and he smiled over at her. "So, can't sleep, huh?" He asked, his eyes fixed on the road rolling in front of him.

She sighed, smiling. "Nope, I'm afraid sleep isn't going to come to me for awhile. Shows always get my blood moving and often make it impossible to calm down afterward." She shrugged, "it's OK though. At least this way I can spend some quality time with Max."

He laughed, "oh yeah, quality time, because I'm such good company. I know what you mean about the shows though. I don't know how the others can just pass out afterward. My brain is always moving a million miles per minute. It's probably why I offer to drive every night; I know I'm not going to be sleeping so why not do something useful."

"That makes sense," she said as she turned her head, watching as the signs flew by. They sat for a moment in silence, each in their own thoughts as they watched the road stretching in front of them.

"So how do you like the tour so far?" Max asked, breaking the silence.

Maria smiled, leaning her head back on the seat. "Oh, I love it. I absolutely love touring and you guys are such a good band to tour with. I really love your fans and just love everything about your shows. I definitely don't have any regrets about coming on tour with you."

Max glanced sideways at her and saw a far off look in her eye. "You miss your family, though? Friends? Your boyfriend?" He asked, knowing the depths of the gleam of sadness in her eye.

She turned her head toward him and smiled weakly, "how did you guess?"

"I know that look. Believe me, I've had that look."

She sighed, nodding her head. "Yeah, a part of me misses a lot of home. Kyle, my boyfriend, I miss him especially. It's just so hard leaving home for this long of a period of time." She paused, looking down at her hands. "It's just quite an adjustment."

Max nodded. "I know what you mean. I mean, I'm lucky. At least I have the band... I've known them my whole life. So for me, it's almost like taking the best of home with me every time we travel. I can imagine it would be hard for you, leaving everyone behind, especially your boyfriend. I don't know what I would do without Liz on tour with us. How long have you two been together?"

Maria laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, years. I think it's somewhere around four years. We stopped counting after the second year. Now whenever we get asked that we just say 'forever' because, really, it's been forever."

Max smiled, looking over at her as she gazed off into the darkness. "It's OK to miss him. We all miss someone."

Maria shook her head, blinking and turning back toward Max. "Well, it's like they say," she said and laughed, raising her voice in a song. "It's a winding road; I've been walking for a long time. I still don't know where it goes and it's a long way home. I've been searching for a long time. I still have hope I'm gonna find my way home."

Max looked over at her again as she finished. "Maria! You can sing? Why didn't you tell us this before?" He asked, incredulous.

Maria shrugged, smiling. "Eh, I've never really sung in front of a crowd before or anything. It's just something I do for fun when I'm alone. I like to sit and write lyrics, strumming my guitar and singing along. I never considered telling you because I figured you sang the songs and wouldn't want the intrusion."

"Not want the intrusion?" He exclaimed, the shocked expression still frozen on his face. "Your voice is amazing. I think it would fit perfectly with our sound. How about this- we'll try it out in practice a little bit. Just you and me, working on some things until we get it figured out. Then, if it works, we'll slowly integrate it into our show. I really think you have something there, Maria. I'd love to read your lyrics too."

Maria couldn't help the smile from spreading on her face. Music had slowly become her life over the years, working its way deeper and deeper into her heart as the years went by. As the stories of her life unfolded, she became more and more dependent on the melody to make the smile stay fixed on her face, and the light still shine from her eyes. To have Max compliment her on her voice and offer to work her into the show in such a way made her glow with pure contentment.

"I would love that, Max. I really, really would." She said and smiled, turning her head and looking out the window as the miles sped by them.

The days stretched onward in a flurry of shows, driving, and a feeling of comfort wrapping around them. Each day brought a new adventure as they traveled from city to city, playing three or four shows a week and using the other days to enjoy being together. Maria and Max began staying up late at night, closed up together working on lyrics and working Maria's voice into the chords of their songs. She loved being closer to the music, and he loved the melodic tone that she brought to the notes of the song.

Maria and Michael hardly spoke. She grew used to the silence between them, and slowly stopped wishing to hear him speak to her again. When they were together, he cast his eyes downward and hardly said a word. When they were apart, she erased him from her thoughts and instead focused her energy on Kyle and keeping him in her life while he was so far away. She longed to feel Michael again so close to her, but she learned to shut off the yearning that grew so deep within her soul. Their avoidance became the routine that allowed her to forget that there had ever been a moment when she'd felt so connected to another man.

One night, many days later

Alex pushed through the doors, and the group emptied out into the dark club. Maria sighed, looking around. She wondered why she'd ever agreed to come with them to another club. Max grabbed Liz's hand and she waved as he dragged her onto the dance floor. Slowly Maria made her way toward one of the tables lining the wall and sat down to watched. She lived her life as a bystander; a position forced upon her and made even harder by the fact that she knew who she wanted to be dancing with at that moment.

Michael leaned against the wall in the shadows as he watched Maria. He watched her smile as she waved at her friends on the dance floor, and then cast her eyes downward toward the ground. She looked so lonely. Inside, he knew she was thinking about him. Before he could convince himself not to, he slowly pushed himself away from the wall and made his way over toward her. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, but at the sense of his presence she slowly looked up.

She felt her heart swell as she looked into his eyes as he stood above her. The man she'd danced with weeks ago had melted away and in his place stood Michael, shy and unaware, standing above her as a question. Without a word she took his hand and he pulled her up, their eyes locking. He led her toward the dance floor, their eyes never leaving each other.

And they danced. The music swept them away, the sensations so much the same but their feelings routed so much deeper than before. Michael felt his body cleansing the evil from his heart with every beat of the music, and likewise Maria felt the idea of Kyle slipping further and further away with every touch of Michael's skin against hers. They'd spent weeks distancing themselves from this familiar feeling and as they music pounded on their eyes opened and fell upon each other.

Michael shook his head, clearing the fog from his brain, and stopped dancing. She gave him a questioning look and he shook his head again. "I- I have to go," he yelled over the music. He pulled his hand away and began to push through the crowd. His senses had come back to him and he cursed himself for allowing his heart to break free. The doors were in sight and he quickly pushed through and out onto the street. He walked past the people standing in line and as he walked on, the noise from the club began to fade with every angry step of his feet.

"Michael!" He heard the scream behind him and he felt her grab his arm. Slowly he turned and faced her. The questions clouded her eyes as she looked up at him, so unable to understand.

He shook his head and lowered his eyes, unable to meet her gaze. "Maria, go back to the club," he said, speaking his first words to her in weeks.

Michael," she shook her head. "Why do you always run away? I just don't understand."

"You'll never understand, Maria. No one ever will." He turned and began to walk away but she grabbed his arm and spun him around.

She looked up at him and smiled faintly. "I understand," she whispered, entwining her fingers through his as she stared deep into his eyes. As he looked down at her, he saw for the first time something in her eyes. There was so much sadness hiding behind her dark eyes. As much as she smiled, he could see the pains of her past showing through. She saw him hurt only because she hurt as well.

He took the final step, closing the gap between them. He dipped his head quickly, engulfing her mouth in a kiss, hungrily taking her in. She wrapped her arms around his neck and slowly they both began to let go. In each other they saw something in themselves that they'd never seen before.

He pulled away slowly and put his mouth near her ear. "We need to talk," he whispered and she nodded, taking his hand. The hotel they'd stopped at for the night was only a few blocks away, and they walked the whole way hand in hand, taking peaks at the other as they walked. Subconsciously they both understood that what was going on was wrong, but they also understood that it ran so much deeper than they could ever imagine.

They stepped onto the elevator and the doors closed. Michael punched the number and looked back at her. He smiled slowly as the elevator began its ascent. "Thank you," he whispered as he leaned down again and kissed her, feeling her squeeze his hand in response.

The doors opened again and they began to walk slowly down the hall. He looked in front of them and saw a tall man leaning up against the wall, his brown hair falling carelessly in his eyes. The man looked toward them and quickly Maria dropped Michael's hand as she felt her heart drop with it.

"Kyle," the name swiftly escaped her mouth and suddenly, Michael began to remember.

The song that Maria sings: "Winding Road" by Bonnie Somerville