Chapter 4

After Michael hung up the phone he went back into his bedroom where he had left Maria. He sat on the edge of the bed and watched her as she continued to sleep. He looked at the clock every few minutes wondering were max could be. He was about to get up and call max when Maria called out his name. She sounded frightened and unsure.

" I'm here Maria. Don't worry I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Max and Isabel are on their way over now."

" O..Okay. I was just so scared Michael and you were the only one I wanted to be with. I didn't even know if you'd open the dor or not, seeing as how we aren't together anymore." Maria said as she wrapped the blanket tighter around her body.

" Don't be stupid. Of course id have opened the door for you. I mean look at you, you have a cut on your lip and bruises are starting to form, plus your clothes are torn. Do you want to get changed out of those clothes into something more warm?"

" Sure that would be great."

Michael walked off towards his wardrobe and returned a few minutes later with some track pants and a jumper for her.

While Maria was in the bathroom changing Michael was making Maria a coffee to help her settle down. He knew that tea was best used to calm people down but he hated the stuff so he never brought it. Just when he finished making the coffee the doorbell rang signalling the arrival of max and hopefully Isabel. When he opened the door two worried faces greeted him.

" Where's Maria, Michael?" Isabel asked as she walked into the apartment.

" Shes in the bathroom changing her clothes."

" Why is she changing her clothes?" max asked as he took a seat on the couch.

" Because her clothes were torn from the struggle she must have been in. I don't even know what happened to her. We haven't had a chance to really talk that much. Besides I get the feeling she'll want to talk to you anyway Izzy seeing as how you're a female." Michael said while taking a seat next to max and waiting for Maria to come out of the bathroom.

After about 10 minutes Michael was starting to worry. " Maybe you should go check on her Isabel and have a talk with her or whatever you females do in a situation like this."

" Oh yeah Michael, that's really going to help. I swear doesn't the guy know how to say at least a whole sentence politely without stuffing it up greatly." Isabel mumbled to herself as she made her way towards the bathroom with the two coffees that she had just made.

" Knock, knock. Can I come in? Its Isabel." She said as she waited by the closed bathroom door. She heard the door being unlocked from the other side and then it was swung open. Isabel took one look at Maria and knew that she had been crying. Isabel hurried into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

" Here I made you this." Isabel said as she handed Maria a mug of coffee.

" Thank you" Maria said and took a sip. " Mmm… this one tastes really great. You make a good coffee."

" Um… I think you have mine coz this tastes really bad." Isabel said as she grabbed Maria's mug off the floor. " Yeah that's my mug. Sorry I got them mixed up." She gave Maria the right mug. " I didn't know you liked Tabasco sauce in your coffee."

" Oh I do. I eat it in everything I just don't eat it in front of others coz they might think i'm just like you guys or something." Maria said while looking around the bathroom.

While Maria was looking around the bathroom Isabel took this as her chance to study Maria further. The first thing she noticed was the lump on her head and the cut on her lip. She then noticed the cuts and bruises on her arms and legs.

" You should let max look at those. He can heal them for you." And also find out what happened to you, Isabel added to herself.

" Um… okay. I'll let max heal me. They are kinda sore but I didn't want to react to it in front of Michael. If I had've, he wouldn't have left me alone. He'd have been fussing over me until you guys got here." Maria said as she grabbed her half drank coffee and stood up.

Isabel stood up as well and together they walked out of the bathroom and into the lounge where the guys were waiting.

As soon as Michael saw Maria he rushed over to help her into his chair. Maria gave Isabel a look as if to say ' see what I mean'.

" Max could you heal Maria please." Isabel said while sitting on the arm of the chair.

" HEAL? Heal what?" Michael said as he ran to Maria's side.

" OWW. Watch it buddy!" Maria said when Michael snatched up her arm.

" Oh god Maria. I'm so sorry."

" Michael maybe you should move out of the way so max can get to Maria." Isabel said while giving Maria a look that said 'let me help.'

" Oh yeah. Sorry max." Michael said as he moved to sit on the couch.

Max placed his hand on Maria's wounds. A soft glow came from his hands. Isabel watched as the cuts and bruises disappeared. He then started on her face and made the split lip and bruises disappear. When he was finished he gave Isabel a look as if to say we need to talk. Max and Isabel stayed a few minutes more, and then max said they should leave before their parents found out that they weren't at home.

After they left Maria and Michael decided to go to bed. Michael said he would sleep on the couch but Maria said she would feel safer if he slept in the bed with her. So he did.