Part 13

And then we met again November 17th, 2007 – Saturday - 8:30 pm

I'm at home in the kitchen searching for something to eat. "We don't have anything to eat!" I state, knowing my mother can hear me.

"Go and buy something if you're hungry", she answers without interest.

"Give me some money," I reply.

"Your mother isn't giving you any money." George comes out of the bathroom.

"But I'm so hungry. You're responsible for me," I say to my mum.

"Go to your room," he yells.

"I'm not talking to you," I shout back.

"I. Said. Go. To. Your. Room." George stares at me with anger. I remember my swollen cheek from two weeks ago and leave the room.

Back in my room, I lie down on my bed and wrap the blanket around me. I'm still freezing, but there is nothing I can do about it. As they do every day, my thoughts roam to Michael the second I close my eyes.

Suddenly a ringing occurs.

"What the hell?" I sit up, confused.

The cell phone! I totally forgot about it. I open my nightstand and pull it out.

'Michael is calling,' it says. Instantly, my heartbeat quickens and my hands get sweaty. Why is he calling me?

"Hello." I answer the phone in a nervous voice.

"Hi. It's Michael. How're you doin`?"

"Fine!" Big lie.

"Doesn't sound like it..."

Why does he know how I feel every time? He can't even see me.

"I just had a fight with my mom."

"So you're at home?"

"Yeah."

"Wanna meet me somewhere?"

I gasp at his question and want to scream: Yes, yes. "But aren't you still sick?"

"I'm still a little weak, but I can handle this. I need a change of scenery."

"It's dangerous," I say, making him stop and think.

"It is," he admits.

I don't know what to say. Of course, I want to meet him, but wouldn't that just make everything worse?

"Maria?"

I breathe out. "Okay, where should I go?"

***

We decided to meet at an outlying subway station. I glance around as I step out of the vehicle, but I can't see him. Maybe he hasn't arrived yet? I put on my cap and walk away from the tracks.

Suddenly I see a male figure at the end of a passage. He makes me a sign to follow, it has to be him. I scout around one more time to make sure nobody followed me, and then I go after him.

Michael is waiting for me around a corner, leaning against the wall. He wears a beanie and over it a hood. I smile a little when I see him. "You look like a gangster!"

He smirks and comes up to me. "I won't rob you, promise."

"Well, you wouldn't find anything to steal anyway."

"But I could've kidnapped you."

"Again?"

He shrugs, and then – to my surprise – takes my hand.

"Good to see you in an upright position again," I add softly.

He gives me a wink. "Let's go."

"Where're we goin`?"

"To a little bar I know where no one will see or recognize us. It's too cold to stay outside."

"Okay." We walk in silence until we reach the building Michael mentioned. He never let go of my hand.

"Let's go in the back. I don't think that anyone from my gang or yours even knows about this bar, but just to make sure…"

We take a seat at the other end of the room and Michael grimaces as he takes off his jacket.

"Are you okay?" I ask quietly. "Should I help you?"

"No, it's okay. It still hurts a little sometimes, but I can stand this. But...", he slides next to me after he's finally gotten rid of his jacket, "maybe I could help you with yours?" He shoots a flirty grin at me.

"But I'm not hurt..." I babble, unsure.

"I know. Does that matter?" He lays his fingers at the collar of my coat.

"Uh… I guess not."

"Good answer." He slowly unzips my jacket and pulls it off. I shiver as his hands run down my arms.

"When did you last eat, Maria? You look thinner than the last time I saw you."

"Uhm... I... can´t remember," I admit.

He looks at me, shocked. "You don't think you're fat or something, do you?"

"No, no, I´m not. I was just a little... busy the last few days. I forgot about eating, that's all."

Oh, I'm so winning an award for being a liar!

"Busy, huh?" He doesn't buy it. "What've you been doin' then?"

"Um... a lot of learning, searching for a job, I met my gang a few times."

His muscles tighten at the mention of my gang.

"I just stayed at the skate park with them. I didn't go home to Billy or anything. I avoided him as much and inconspicuously as I could."

"That's good," Michael says, relieved. "The waitress is coming up. What d'you want?"

"I don't have any money with me," I mumble, ashamed.

"That's okay, I've got it. So..?"

"You don't have to..."

"I know, but I will, okay?"

"Okay," I whisper, "...a hot chocolate, please."

"Hey, welcome to our pub. What can I get you?" the tall blonde asks.

"A hot chocolate, a coke, and a big serving of fries for the lady." He gestures at me.

"Okay, I'll be right back."

"What? I didn´t say I wanted fries."

"I know. But I'm gonna make you eat something, cause you look like a ghost."

"Thank you. You're not exactly looking all that healthy either."

"Yeah, 'cause I was almost stabbed; you don't have that excuse."

I wince at the mention of the stabbing. I still can't believe what had happened to him. I'm so glad that he's sitting right next to me at this moment. His arm is stretched out behind me on the backrest. If I were to lean back…

"Were you successful with the job search?" he asks, changing the subject.

Damn it. Why does he always have to ask about the things I don't want to talk about? I shake my head.

"Where'd you apply?"

"At some supermarkets – but they don't need anyone. Maybe I'll find something next week."

Then the waitress comes again. "Here you are. Enjoy!"

The moment I see the fries my stomach starts to rumble. Michael hears it – of course.

"Hungry, huh?" He takes one of the fries and shoves it into his mouth.

"Hey, I thought these fries were for me?" I complain with a smile.

"They are... mostly." He takes another one and act as if he wants to eat it, but at the last moment he sticks it into my mouth.

"Yummy. I almost forgot how delicious they are."

It's almost midnight when we arrive back at the subway station, walking in silence. Sadly, Michael hasn't taken my hand this time. I wish he had.

"When's your subway coming?" he asks.

"In a moment," I respond. "You're walking home?"

"Yeah, it's not too far from here."

"What'd you tell Max you were doing this evening?"

"He and Liz took off this morning to spend some time together. He won't notice that I was gone."

"I think I have to go..." I mention, nodding at the arriving subway train.

"Yeah."

"Oh, I haven't said thank you for the cell phone..."

"Don't worry about it." Then he lightly pulls me into his arms for a second. "And call me, if you need anything, okay? Or even if you just want to talk."