Chapter 5
Disclaimer – I don't own anything
"So, how was your first night?" A handsome tall guy asked as he got into step next to her. Maria blinked; she was speechless. The guy was gorgeous. Granted he wasn't Michael gorgeous because he lacked the broad shoulders and rough attitude, yet even though he was the complete opposite he was still gorgeous. This guy was a few inches taller than her, with jet black hair, piercing blue eyes and dimples in his cheek.
"You're the new girl right?" he asked when all she did was stare.
Maria smiled and nodded, "I'm Maria," she introduced, extending her hand for him to shake.
"Zack," he replied taking her smaller hand in his larger but yet soft one. "So, how was it?" he asked again.
"Honestly, not so well. I mean I'm used to serving people, but just getting used to where all the drinks were was the problem. I don't think I managed to impress the boss, that's for sure." Maria grimaced, pulling a face.
"Ah, don't worry about. It's no biggie. It was your first night. Trust me, Phil has seen worse," Zack answered reassuringly.
"Really?" she asked, not fully convinced.
"Definitely. How are you getting home?" he asked once he realised that they were walking down the street.
"Walking," was her simple answer. "It's too late for the buses, and my mom took my car earlier."
"You're walking? At 4 am." Zack asked incredulously, raising one eyebrow in amusement.
"Uh huh. I don't have a choice"
"Why don't you call a cab?"
"It's no biggie; it should only take fifteen to twenty minutes."
"But it's 4am."
"So?"
"You shouldn't be walking by yourself." The way he said it caused a bittersweet smile on Maria's face. Somehow that one sentence had reminded her of her late friend Alex, with his caring and selfless ways, and of Michael, with his over-protectiveness. Before she let the comparison sink in, she pushed it aside and smiled at Zack. He was looking at her curiously because he had seen the look on her face and he watched her compose herself.
"Oh, so it's all right for you to walk alone at 4 am?" she replied, teasingly putting her attention back on him.
"Yes. I'm a strong man, and I can look after myself," He smirked, and he puffed out his chest to make his point
Maria laughed; she couldn't help it, "Whatever, Zack. So, you walking me home?" she asked when she realised that he was still walking with her.
"No," he said, shaking his head.
"No?"
"Nope, I'm not walking you home."
"So what are you doing then?" she smiled knowingly.
"I'm walking beside a colleague."
"Ok, but where are you going?"
"Wherever she may take me."
Maria laughed; she liked him. She knew the reason he was walking her home was because he didn't want anything to happen to her and for some reason, she did feel safe with him. It was kind of like how she felt when she was with Alex. She smiled at him, deciding she would get to know him more as she realised she had just made a new friend.
Michael paced outside Maria's window silently. She wasn't home. It was almost 3am and she wasn't home. Where the hell was she? Her car wasn't there but he knew Amy had left with it earlier. He had tried calling her cell phone but no one had answered and that's what freaked him out the most. Maria always answered.
He had woken up Liz to ask her where Maria was but shewasn't helpful at all. He hadn't even bothered calling Max and Isabel because if Liz didn't know, then they sure as hell didn't. So there he was, alternating between pacing and sitting outside Maria Deluca's house.
He jumped slightly when the porch light came on and the front door opened. Then he stopped mid-stride to stare at the blond haired guy he had seen leave earlier.
"Can I help you?" Sean asked politely, though it was quite obvious that he was irritated.
"No," Michael replied coolly, giving him a cold stare.
"No? Dude, you've been standing outside my house for the last half of an hour; is there something you wanted?" Sean asked incredulously.
"I'm waiting for someone" Michael replied shortly.
Sean stared at him. The guy looked young but was tall and well built. Noticing his security guard uniform, he raised an eyebrow and asked harshly, "Who?"
"None of your business."
"If you weren't outside my house then I would be inclined to mind my own business, but as it is, seems I wanna know who," Sean replied smoothly.
"You don't live here. I know the person who lives here. Who are you?"
"Sean Deluca," Sean answered once he realised that he wasn't going to get an answer from the stubborn and rude guy. He smiled when he noticed the confused look on the guy's face at the mention of the name Deluca.
"I'm Maria's cousin," he explained, and he shifted the focus back to the guy in front of him, "Now who are you?"
"Maria's boyfriend," Michael answered quickly. Truth was he was so enthralled at hearing that Sean was Maria's cousin that he spoke without thinking.
"Oh? Maria didn't say she had a boyfriend," Sean commented, suspicion laced in his voice.
"Yeah, well I am," Michael retaliated, realizing that he could not go back on his word.
"What your name then, Maria's boyfriend?" Sean sneered
"Michael," he stated.
"Hmm."
"Hmm, what?" Michael snapped.
"Just wondering how Maria could stay in a relationship with you."
"Whatever. Where is she?" All this talk was driving him crazy. Michael Guerin hated talk.
"Dunno," Sean shruggedseemingly indifferent "But then you're her boyfriend right, so you should know."
"Whatever, man," Michael said and he turned his back to Sean. He smiled weakly when he heard the door shut.
'Come on Maria, where are you,' he was tired and he needed sleep. He worked a shift at 'The Crashdown' earlier and had just got back from his nightshift at Metachem; all he needed was sleep, but he knew he couldn't get it just yet. Knowing Maria wasn't safe was going to keep him restless.
Sighing he slumped on the ground with his head between his hands. He didn't understand. All he wanted was a few moments to speak to her. He knew he wasn't the greatest boyfriend. He knew that he put her through a lot, but he had changed and he was trying.
He just didn't get it though. One minute everything was ok, and the next minute she was breaking up with him. He just wanted answers, he wanted to understand.
Everything he was doing now was for her. Going to school, working the two jobs, staying on earth – everything.
He just wanted to make her happy and at the same time somehow invest in their future, one in which they were happy and together.
'I just want to understand Maria, and then maybe I can fix this. Help me to understand.' He silently pleaded to the silent nightand of course he got no answer
TBC
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