A/N: Thanx to dreamerlaure for betar'ing

Disclaimer – Nothing belongs to me.

Chapter 6

An hour later, Michael was still outside of Maria's house. He had finally crossed the street to where the tree was and he slumped down on the ground, leaning on the tree in the darkened street.

Twenty minutes later when he was lightly dozing, he heard laughter. He smiled sleepily thinking of her laugh, but when he heard another more masculine laugh, he frowned. His eyes snapped open when he realised that the light and carefree laughter was not something that he was dreaming but something that he could actually hear. He turned his head to the direction of the sound and felt like someone had just thrown ice-cold water in his face. Frozen in place with agonized dismay, Michael watched the laughing couple.

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Maria smiled at Zack. He was a great guy, and his personality reminded her so much of Alex that a part of her wanted to cry and another part wanted to jump up with joy. Walking with him had really helped her. When she had come out of the club and had checked her phone for any messages or calls, she had been overwhelmed to have found a couple of missed calls from Michael. But then Zack and his goofiness had taken her mind off of him.

She laughed as he pulled a face imitating his science teacher. She had discovered that he did not go to Roswell High but McEachern High, which was the other school in Roswell.

"Well, this is me." Maria announced when they arrived outside her house.

"Finally," Zack joked. "Now how do I go back?" he laughed sheepishly.

Maria laughed but before she could answer or give him directions, her cell phone rang. Surprised at who could be calling her so late she opened her bag searching for the ringing phone. When she finally had it in her hand, she frowned when she saw 'Michael Guerin' displayed on the screen. Biting her lip she stared at the screen for a fewseconds, letting the phone ring and then she finally pressed disconnect.

"Are you ok?" Zack asked, his worried voice pulling her out of her thoughts. Maria nodded and put the cell phone back in her bag. Noticing the change of mood, Zack smiled reassuringly, touched her arm and said good night.

"Good night Zack" Maria replied. The cheeriness that was in her voice five minutes before, gone. She turned around and walked up the steps, pulled out her keys and let herself in. Before closing the door she turned around and smiled at Zack, not once noticing the shadow of a man sitting on the ground leaning against the tree.

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Michael watched them from where he sat. He watched her laugh happily, throwing her head back. He watched her smile encouragingly while the guy she was with spoke. He watched the small touches they exchanged, and with every smile, laugh or touch he felt his heart crack.

"She was on a date," he whispered brokenly to himself.

From where he was sitting he saw her face clearly, and he could see the light make-up she had on and the carefree happiness that he hadn't seen in so long. The make-up had surprised him. Even though it was light make-up, Michael still noticed. He knew her face as well as he knew his own.

He tried to move his eyes away from the happy scene but it was hard to. They stayed glued onto the girl that had officially broken his heart.

He took out his cell phone and pressed redial. Her phone rang loudly in the silence of the night, interrupting their laughter. He watched as she frowned when she saw his number, and he silently begged for her to answer.

'If she answers, there's hope.'

But when she disconnected his call and put her phone back into her bag, Michael dejectedly let his arm drop onto his thigh. Feeling disappointed, empty and foolish, Michael watched her turn and smile at the guy before closing the door.

Unable to move he stared at her closed door.

'I guess we're really over'.

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Sean stood near the kitchen window with a frown marring his face. He could just about make out the shadowy form of Michael slumped against a tree looking forlorn as he watched Maria with a guy Sean did not recognize. He couldn't really make out Michael's facial features, but the desolate way his body slouched was enough for anyone to see that he was truly unhappy.

When he heard the jingle of keys he rushed into the living roomand slumped onto the couch with the remote control in his hand, seemingly indifferent as he channel surfed.

"Sean?" Maria hesitantly called when she saw him on the couch.

"Hey. How was work?" he asked, smiling sympathetically.

"Not bad considering it was my first time. Why are you still awake?"

"Couldn't sleep." He shrugged.

"Mom not back yet?" she asked quietly, but she regretted it once the words left her mouth.

"No," he replied shortly.

"Oh, ok. Well I'm going to bed, I have school tomorrow. Goodnight Sean."

Sean watched her turn and walk towards her room. She reached her door just when he asked, "Who's Michael?"

He frowned when he saw her tense and turn to face him slowly.

She narrowed her eyes" How do you know Michael?" she asked suspiciously.

"I don't" Sean shrugged and turned his attention back to the tv screen. 'Shit, I shouldn't have said anything.'

"Sean," Maria said her voice anything but soft and sweet.

"He was here earlier, looking for you."

"And?"

"And what?"

"What else?" Maria asked exasperatedly.

"Nothing. He asked where you were and I told him I didn't know"

"Oh, ok. Good." She nodded then turned back to enter her room.

"So who is he then?" Sean asked again.

"Just someone from school… He's no one."

With that said she quickly walked into her room and closed the door. Once inside, Maria leaned against the door, her heart hammering in her chest.

"I wish he were no one" she whispered gravely to the dark room.

TBC