Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. It has been far too long, but my last exam is tomorrow…well today actually (I just realized it was 12:05). That means there won't be that long of a chapter delay anymore…or I will have to think of very creative excuses.

It had been a week. A week since she pleaded for him to go away with her. A week since they almost kissed. A week since she sang to him. A week since she gave her 'not so last ditch' effort on their relationship.

She wasn't surprised that he hadn't come running back to her professing his undying love…but that didn't fill the emptiness she felt inside.

When they were in the Crashdown they had spent their time either desperately trying to ignore each other or giving each other longing glances which abruptly stopped once they realized what it was they were doing.

It had been a very long week.

Max and Alex were a help when they were around, The IBD Club stayed strong, but the meetings had grown less frequent due to more shifts at each member's workplace. At the moment both of the guys were at said workplace. Her mother was especially busy, it being tourist season. Liz hadn't returned her phone call yet and she hadn't received a postcard or letter for a while.

Maria was driving in her car, radio on full blast but not hearing a word. She didn't even know where she was driving to.

She only came out of her trance once she hit a large bump in the country road she had managed to get herself on.

Somewhere between her feeling the need to get out of her house, her decision to go for a short drive and the sudden bump in the road, she had driven herself to the middle of the desert.

'Good job DeLuca' she scoffed to herself. She pulled to the side of the road and stopped the engine. Squinting against the sun she looked around the barren land. She had a pretty good idea where she was and was even more confident she would be able to get herself back.

Sighing she leaned back against her seat.

"Get back to what?" she muttered aloud.

The question depressed her, and the answer was even worse. She didn't feel she had anything to get back to. She listed off in her mind the little she thought she had; 'A guy who doesn't want to be around me, a best friend who won't return my calls, a mother who is too busy for me and a bunch of friends…who aren't even around.'

Not knowing what caused her to think that; she hit her steering wheel with a sudden burst of frustration. Alex and Max were much more then 'a bunch of friends' and it wasn't their fault they had to work, no more then it was her mothers or hers for that matter. Liz on the other hand, had her own broken heart which she had to mend, and if that meant she had to separate herself from Roswell, Maria couldn't hold that against her, in fact she strongly understood. Lastly Michael…

Maria frowned at the thought. Opening the door she stepped out of the car, stretched and slammed the door shut. She stomped away from the car, hoping that the thoughts of Michael would stay with it instead of her.

Sand came up in bursts around her feet as she smashed them into the ground, and settled gently behind her as she made her way determinedly into the desert.

Of course her plan didn't work, in fact it felt the farther she got away from the car the more her head filled with him and the good thoughts of her friends and family were pushed to the side.

She knew she couldn't do anything, she had tried, and she had been trying for the last month. He wasn't coming around, sure at points he would bend towards her but just as soon as it happened he would snap back, even farther away then he was before.

Halting mid-stride, she turned towards her shadow, and planting her feet firmly into the earth, she screamed out her frustration.

Her scream came flying out of her throat and rose up into the clear air.

Standing still listening to the last of it die away, she closed her mouth. The muscles in her body began to relax and she shook the rest of her anger off in one swift movement.

Suddenly feeling very drained she slowly went back to her car. Her mind felt clear. It was true there was nothing she could do about Michael if he believed he shouldn't be with her, nothing would change that. She couldn't change that.

Though she loved him, she couldn't force him to be with her. It was insanity.

She reached her car and climbed into the drivers seat closing the door gently. Deep down she knew that she would not stop fighting for him, but right then, she was tired. No, more then that, she felt exhausted.

Driving back she pondered her new state of being. What was more then her exhaustion was her strong want to feel happy again. Truly happy.

Pulling into her driveway she stopped her car. Pausing before going into her house she waited for the tears to form in her eyes. Surprisingly she didn't feel the need to cry. She went up to her front door with a soft smile; her not crying was a definite step in the right direction.

Maria walked with purpose into the Crashdown the next day. Finding Max and Alex laughing in the booth at the back, she slid in next to her alien friend.

"Max," she said firmly.

"Maria?" he asked a smile still on his face.

"It's time for a change" she stated with a strong slap on the counter.

"Ok…" he answered trailing off giving her a questioning look.

"A change for me" she clarified and with a grin added, "A life altering change"

Alex looked up from his paper at her with more interested.

"What can I do?" Max asked curiously with a slight hint of worry.

"You are going to change my hair" she nodded to him with a smile.

"Life altering change?" Alex echoed with a chucked, "you want to get a hair cut?"

"No" she answered narrowing her eyes with annoyance at him.

"Then what?" Max questioned with amusement.

"I want you to lengthen my hair"

"Thanks for the clarification" Alex snorted.

Without taking her eyes off Max, Maria said, "No problem. So Max are you going to help a friend out?"

"Sure," he agreed with a shrug. "When?"

A wide smile spread across her face. "Oh, thank you Max" she said, "How about right now?"

"Um, ok" Max nodded. The two began to climb out of the booth. Max paused and looked to Alex who remained seated reading the newspaper in front of him, "Aren't you coming?"

"I think I can skip the beauty parlor activity"

Maria scoffed and grabbed his newspaper before ordering for him to come with them. "It's not like you have anything better to do" she added folding up the paper.

"How about this?"

"I think it needs to be a little longer…What do you think Alex?"

"I think I don't care. Ow!"

"You deserved it"

"Nobody deserves a brush to the temple Maria, it just isn't right"

"Stop wining Alex. Now what do you think of the length?"

"I'm afraid to answer"

"A little longer"

"You know Max, watching you work on Maria's hair, I've come to a realization"

"What realization Alex?"

"You could have a very promising career as a hairdresser. Ow!"

"Nice shot Max"

"A comb Max? I frankly expected more of you"

"Would you prefer a curling iron?"

"No"

"Ok boys enough of that, we have to focus on what's really important here"

"Let me guess, your hair?"

"Exactly"

An hour or so later Maria was finally satisfied with her hair and Alex had a few more salon product induced wounds.

"Thank you so much Max, I absolutely love it" she gave a little squeal before hugging him tight. He smiled and let out a small laugh.

"Aw, I'm feeling the love" Alex commented jumping off the bed and coming over to them and added, "Group hug!" before pouncing on the both of them.

That was when Isabel decided to come home early and check on the ruckus that was coming from her brother's room. She opened the door to find the three of them in a jumble on the floor.

Maria twisted her head to see who had walked in, "Oh hey Isabel"

"Um, hi Maria"

Alex quickly untangled him self and stood up, "Hey Isabel" he greeted with an awkward wave. "How are you? You look good, I mean you seem good, which doesn't mean you don't look good too, but then again you always look good. I'm fine myself, as in feeling fine, not looking fine. Though I guess one could think that I look fine, but that's doubtful. Alright I'm going to stop talking now"

She gave a tight smile in recognition. Standing above the two sprawled on the floor she titled her head to the side, "You guys ok?"

They stood up both with somewhat shy smiles, "We're good" Maria answered.

"Ok then" Isabel nodded and abruptly left.

Alex stood in shock staring at the closed door. "Why is it whenever I'm around her the switch in my brain that stops me from sounding like an idiot doesn't come on?"

"It's called love my friend" Maria answered patting him on the back.

He hunched his shoulders with a frown, "Then I have a feeling that love is against me"

"It's against us all" Maria added, in what was intended for comfort.

Max sighed in agreement, "Yeah"

"At least my hair looks great" she piped in a chipper voice.

"Comforting Maria" Alex smiled warmly at her effort.

"I know that fact is going to help me through the pain"

"Yeah Max whenever you feel down about Liz just tease your hair and you'll be fine" Alex chuckled.

Maria crossed her arms and said, somewhat indignantly but with a grin, "It doesn't hurt. Now cheer up, it's movie night at my house and I've got extra popcorn"

"Let's go" Alex nodded brightening. Max smiled in response.

"Good, because I need my hairdresser and wordsmith"

"Ha, ha" Alex scoffed sarcastically.

"I thought so"

A/N: Ending on a pretty happy note. Hurrah! Ok so I hope the next chapter is going to be put up soon.