Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own Metallica or Hollywood.

Chapter Three

Maria stretched as she slowly woke up. It took her a minute to remember where she was, as she looked around the room slowly. Right, a hotel near Hollywood, with Michael. Michael, where was he? She pushed the blankets off of her, and swung her legs off of the side. The hotel room was small, so she didn't have to walk far until she figured out where he gone. She leaned against the door, and heard the sound of water pattering against the floor. He was taking a shower. She should changed too, so they could leave as soon as he got of the bathroom. In her haste, she hadn't seen the suitcase on the bottom of the bed. She realized that Michael must have brought her suitcase and his suitcase in while she was still asleep. She wondered how he could be so insensitive sometimes, but randomly sensitive like times like this?

Michael exited the bathroom, toweling his hair. Langley had told him not to have "girly" hair when he came. So he waited until the last possible moment to cut his hair. It wasn't as short as when he had been a sophomore, which was probably for the best. No one would want an actor who looked liked he was attacked with a bottle of hair gel. It was, however, shorter. Just above his ears. He wasn't surprised to find Maria sitting on the edge of the bed, all dressed and with her hair brushed. She looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "What?" He said.

"Nothing. It's just strange going to bed with someone having one haircut, and waking up to them having a totally different one." Maria said. Michael nodded. Maria pushed herself off of the bed. "I hope you got good sleep last night. Because I have feeling that today is gonna be a long day." If traffic in New York City was bad, she hated to think what traffic in Hollywood was like. She realized that Michael hadn't said anything. He was still looking at her, in a way that looked more like examining than romantic. "What's wrong?" She asked. Michael looked startled, and put a hand behind his head.

"Uh, n-nothing. Come on, we've got to go." He said.

"Okay." She was kinda confused, but grabbed her suitcase. She knew that something was up with him, but she knew that he wasn't about to tell her. He kept glancing over his shoulder, like he was checking her for something. That was odd. He usually only reserved looks like that for times when their lives were endangered. They were at the car now, and he grabbed the suitcase from her, and threw it in the back with his.

"I called Langley. He was pissed that we were late, but he said that if we get there today, there shouldn't be too much of a problem."

"Oh, Ok. So you're gonna drive over the speed limit to get there, right?" Maria said. Michael grinned. "Yeah, well for your information buddy , that's illegal."

"Do I look like I care?" Michael said, turning on the car.

"Yeah, well good luck breaking the law when the traffic is so compact."

"It can't be that bad..."

"Oh please. We're not in Roswell anymore." She said. He had no response to that, as he pulled out of the hotel parking lot. She did know cities better, considering she had been to New York City for a while. But they didn't have a choice anymore. They were already late, and Michael knew that was bad. Langley was the guy calling the shots, and there was nothing that they could do to change it.

They only drove for about an hour before they hit the traffic. They hadn't moved in fifteen in minutes, when Michael stuck his head out the window and yelled a string of swear words. "Michael..." Maria said, laying a hand on his arm. "you getting upset is not going to make traffic any better. And this traffic isn't as bad as it would have been if we had waited for longer to leave."

"Yeah, I guess so. Can you reach back and get my Metallica CDS?" He asked.

"No, no, no. I am not listening to Metallica the whole time we're in the car. Uh-huh." She said, with hand motions.

"Well if you've got something better, which I doubt you do, why don't you put it on then?" He asked. Maria leaned down, and pulled a case from somewhere near the door. She smiled proudly as she held it up. "What's that?" He asked, not looking, because the god damn traffic had finally starting moving. Maria didn't respond, but put it in the CD player. Her voice starting out of the speakers. It was the demo he had given Langley. He bit back a groan. "I know these songs. Come on, just a little Metallica?"

"Only if you never want me to talk to you again." She said. That wouldn't be so bad. Michael thought, but held it in. That wouldn't help him any. He'd just get slapped, and most likely yelled for being a jerk. And he didn't need that right now. His road rage would probably be worse than it was if he did.

After what seemed like hours, they were finally approaching Langley's house. They glanced at each other, in anticipation. In front of them was a black iron gate, that was closed. They gave the name Michael Guerin and Maria Deluca into the tiny black box, and the doors opened for them. A woman rushed out of the house as they approached. "Miss. Deluca, Mr. Guerin, I am sorry, but Mr. Langley had to run off for some business." Said the lady.

"That's alright. When is he coming back?"

"He didn't say. But here, we can help you with your luggage. I am sure that you would like to rest up before he gets back." They shrugged, and a few more people came out of the house. They started getting the luggage out of the car, each carrying as many suitcases as humanly possible.

"Hey!" Michael called, not comfortable with people touching his things.

"Michael, calm down. They're just carrying your things into your room." Maria said, following behind them. He wasn't so sure, but followed behind her. The "servants" lead them up the stairs. They stopped at a door, and motioned for Michael to enter. When Maria tried to enter, they stopped her.

"No Miss. Only Mr. Guerin's room. Your's is down this way." A man said, motioning with his arm. She and Michael exchanged a quick glance. They hadn't been separated from each other since graduation. They always slept in the same room. But apparently, they had no choice this time. Maria stepped into her room, and looked around. It was nice, and had it's own bathroom. She noticed that there was paper all around. The person who choose this room defiantly knew how to decorate. They had made it a room for a musician.

Michael, however, was not liking his room too much. It wasn't his style. After living in his own apartment, he was used to choosing what his living space looked like. And he wasn't liking the look his room had now. He would have to change the color and look later. Right now, he was going to take a nap. As he laid down on the bed, the door opened. He knew that it must be Maria, because the others would have knocked. She pepped her head around the corner. "Hi." She said.

"Hi. Kinda weird, huh, to have our own rooms?"

"Yeah, tell me about it." She said, standing with her hands in her pockets. Michael patted next to him, and Maria crawled next to him. He pulled her close to him, and rested his chin on the top of her head. Pretty soon, they had fallen asleep.

A/N: I know, that once again, nothing much happened. But I needed lead way into getting California. I hope that this was still in character, and please review to let me know how I'm doing. Thanks