Extra long part today. Merry Christmas! :)
Part 24
My birthday December 5th, 2007 – Wednesday – 6:30 pm
I feel exhausted, when I climb the stairs to my home. Last night was very cool. Angel and I had a lot of fun while watching a movie on TV. We went to bed after midnight even though I had to get up early this morning. And then after a boring day in school Kate gave me a lot of work this afternoon.
All I want now is a shower, a very hot shower. Yeah, I can have a hot shower whenever I want now. That's cool, isn´t it? That´s definitly the best birthday present I got this year.
Even if I've made it me by myself, I think sadly. I´m not used to getting a lot of presents, but when I was a kid my mom and grandma backed cookies and then we would go to the zoo.
I hear some noise through the door as I search around my bag for the keys. Maybe one of Angel's friends decided to come by or something?
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" someone almost screams at me when I open the door. I stand there in shock and stare at the smiling Angel.
"How... how did you know? I don't remember telling you my birthday is today."
"Oh, you didn't," she tells me.
"But I did." Only now do I notice Michael in the kitchen.
My jaw drops to the floor. "Michael?" I ask in disbelief.
He remembered?
"Yeah, it's me. So you still know my name." He grins insufferably.
"Michael came to me a few hours ago. He told me that it´s your birthday today and he wanted to give you his present here. Since I didn´t know, I don't have a present of my own, sorry."
"That's okay. I don´t expect any presents from you. Either of you."
"Well, too late, honey," Michael states.
Did he just call me honey?
"Yeah, Michael's present is in your room. And I made dinner for us. Pasta! I hope you like it."
"I... I don't know what to say... um… except for thank you."
"That's enough. Now, don´t stand in the door any longer. Come inside. Maybe you want to shower first?"
"Um... yeah, that would be nice. I just have to go to my room to get some clothes."
"Oh, the box with your clothes is already in the bathroom," Angel says and I look at her, puzzled.
"Oooookkkayy," I answer sceptically, and then disappear to shower.
***
The hot water is running down my body. I sigh with relief and try to relax… well, as much as I can relax with the knowledge that Michael Guerin is on the other side of the door.
He's here. He's really here at my place. I can´t believe it. And he has a present for me. I wonder what it could be? I have no idea. My fingers run through my hair and along the back of my neck. How would this feel, if it were Michael touching me?
I shake my head slightly. That's so untypical of me. I never have these kinds of daydreams – erotic daydreams. Not until I met him. It's kind of scary.
Angel and Michael have already set the table when I come out into the living room. "Food smells good," I comment with a soft smile on my lips.
"I hope it tastes good as well," Angel replies from the kitchen and sets the last jar on the table. Michael is already sitting on one of the chairs. "Dinner is ready," she calls with a grin, and takes a seat as well.
"You should have told me that it's your birthday today, Maria. I would have bought you a little present, too."
"You don´t have to," I say again as I take my seat. "You already gave me the best present, when you told me that I could live here with you. So, don't worry. And I have to mention that it´s been a long time since someone has cooked for me, too."
"Hey, I cooked for you," Michael complains.
I raise an eyebrow. "You bought pizza. That has nothing to do with cooking."
He sticks his tongue out, but smiles. "Okay, you´re right."
We eat in silence then and the pasta Angel made tastes more than fine.
"That was really delicious. But I'm so full." I rub my belly.
"So, you're ready for your present?" Michael asks me.
"Yeah, go on and give her the present, Michael. I´ll take care of the dishes," Angel answers for me.
He stands in front of the door to my room and smiles at me. "Sooo... are you ready for your present?"
I still wonder what it could be, but they hadn't given me the slightest clue about it. "I guess."
He nods and opens the door in slow motion. "I hope you like it."
"Oh, my God!" I rush into the room and look at a couch and a shelf, which weren't there when I left that morning. "What... How…" I can't even construct one simple sentence right now, I´m too confused and overwhelmed.
"So, you like it?" Michael closes the door and stands there, right behind me.
"Do I like it? I LOVE it. I can't believe it. But, Michael, you can´t give this to me, it´s too much. It's too expensive."
"It's okay. These are pieces of furniture from my apartment; I used them before I bought something new, but I still had them in the basement. I don´t need them anymore and you didn´t have any, so..."
I turn around to look at him, and tears are clouding my vision. "I... I don´t know what to say except… Thank you!"
"That's more than enough. C'mere." He wraps his arms around me and I hold onto him tightly.
"It's not enough," I whisper and the tears keep falling.
He takes a little step back to look at me and wipes a few tears away with his thumb. "Don´t cry. It´s your birthday – and on birthday you are not supposed to cry, you´re supposed to be happy."
"I am happy," I rush to assure him, "it's just... my feelings just overwhelmed me. I hadn't expected this. I hadn't even expected you to be here. Thank you for being here tonight, Michael."
He just nods and gazes down at me. His brown eyes roam over my face and stop at my lips, as he moves a strand of my hair behind my ear. I can feel that my palms are sweaty, just from his look.
"I'm gonna kiss you," he whispers, and I realize what he said only when he brushes his lips gently over mine. My eyes are still closed when he backs away a little. I have to force myself to open them again, just to catch sight of him looking at me warmly. He´s still close, only a few centimeters away from my face. A soft smile appears on his lips before he kisses me again.
This time, he doesn´t end the kiss right after it starts. As he wraps his arms around me, I run my hands around his neck and slide my fingers through his hair. His lips still move gentle and slow over my own and I have the feeling that he´s holding back a little... because of me...my non-existent experience with men... and my past with one jerk.
***
He places feather light kisses from the corner of my mouth, over my cheek to my ear. I have to hold onto him tightly, 'cause my knees are too weak to steady myself. "You okay?" he asks softly.
Am I okay? No! I'm not okay. But, 'not okay' in a good way. My heart is racing, I feel dizzy and I can´t think straight. Is there any oxygen left in this room?
"Uh-huh", is the only word I can breathe.
I can feel his soft smile against the skin of my neck before he lifts one of his hands up to cup my cheek. He comes up face to face with me again and his dark eyes stare into mine for a moment. "Don´t forget to breathe," he says with a playful smirk, and in the next moment he´s kissing me again. And it's more intense this time.
I let my hand travel over one side of his neck to his shoulder and then down to his muscular chest. It makes me happy that Michael's heart races as much as mine - I can feel it under my fingertips.
Suddenly a very annoying sound disturbs us. It take me several seconds before I notice that it is coming from Michael's pants pocket. He leans his forehead against mine and sighs in frustration. "Looks like Max is coming between us again," he says and then pulls out his phone.
"I thought we were meetin' at 10 o´clock? It's not even 9 yet," Michael growls into the phone.
"I'm out, why? Do I need your permission to leave my apartment now?"
He runs his hand over his eyes in resignation. "Fine, I'm on my way."
Michael shoves his cell phone back into his pocket and looks at me regretfully. "I have to leave. Max is bein' overprotective again and he wants to see me right now."
I try to hide my disappointment. "Do you think he's suspicious?"
He shrugs. "Maybe. But I don't really care."
"You don't?"
"Well, sooner or later he's gonna find out anyway."
I look at him, shocked. "You think so?"
"He's smart. He'll figure it out at some point." Michael pulls me back into his arms and brushes my forehead with his lips. "You don´t have to be scared. But for now, I really have to leave."
"Okay," I whisper against his neck and let go of him to follow.
Angel is still in the kitchen and she looks over her shoulder as we enter the living room again.
"Later, Angel!" he calls.
"Bye," she calls back.
My heart feels heavy as we reach the front door. "I don´t want you to leave," I blurt out and immediately feel ridiculous.
Be rational, DeLuca. The relationship with him is complicated enough.
"I don´t want to leave either, but I have to. I´ll try to come over tomorrow, okay?"
He takes a step forward, so that I´m trapped between him and the wall. His hand roams over my arms up to my neck. "G'night, baby," he whispers into my ear and presses his lips against my cheek before he opens the door and leaves.
***
Angel is grinning like a Cheshire cat as I reach her in the kitchen.
"Just friends, huh?" she teases me.
"Well…" I can't hide the big smile. "Things changed today, I guess."
"So, you're together now? Like a real couple?"
"I don´t know. We kissed in my room, that´s all."
"That's all?" Angel sounds scandalized. "I want to know every ever-so-small detail about it. Sit down on the couch while I grab the ice cream."
I laugh and do what she told me. It feels so good to share moments like this with a friend.
Confrontations December 6th, 2007 – Thursday – 6:30 am
"Morning," I murmur when I enter the living room with narrowed eyes.
Angel is smiling at me. "Morning, Maria. I made breakfast; you want something, too? I also made coffee?"
"YES! That'd be great. I'm so tired. And I have to work until 7pm tonight. God!" Angel and I watched a movie on TV after Michael left yesterday and we went to bed late, well after midnight. I sit down on one of the chairs at the dining table and rest my head on my arms.
"You seeing Michael today?"
Michael – my heart turns a flip in my chest at the mention of his name. "I don't know. He told me that he was gonna try to come over this evening. But, you know the complications..."
"Do you think the two of you will be able to keep your relationship a secret?" Angel looks at me doubtfully.
I shrug. "I don't know. Probably not. Once someone from my or his gang finds out... God, I don´t even want to think about it. I'm so stupid for starting to meet him in first place."
"But you like him, don´t you? I mean, that´s the reason you meet him at all, right?"
I sigh. "That's the problem – I like him too much. There is no turning back now. Well, I don´t want to turn back and be Billys bimbo all over again, but then again... the whole thing... it really scares me."
"I don't think you have to be scared with Michael on your side. He seems like a strong guy to me. He won't let anything happen to you."
"Sometimes I have the feeling that he's a little too brave, you know? He would put himself in danger to protect me or one of the other members of his gang. And I don´t want him to get hurt or even killed because of me."
"You think your ex-boyfriend, what was his name again..?"
"Billy."
"Yes, of course. So, do you think Billy would kill somebody if worst comes to worst?"
A picture of Michael lying in the hospital after the fight with Billy pops into my mind and I wince. Actually, I don´t want to tell her this story, but maybe I'll feel better if someone else knows about it. "Michael got knifed by him a few weeks ago. He almost died and Billy wouldn´t have minded."
"OH!" Angel looks at me in shock.
"I know!"
***
Around 3 pm in the afternoon I arrive at work. Kate is already waiting for me when I open the back door of the restaurant that opens into the kitchen.
"Hey Maria," she smiles at me and wraps her arms around me.
"Huh?" I don't know what's going on.
"Belated best wishes for your birthday."
"Um, thank you. How do you know…?"
"Michael is back at work today and he and my husband stopped by here for lunch. He told me about your big day. So you're 18 now, right?"
"I am!" It sounds weird, but I really am.
"We should celebrate this. What do you think about a promotion?" Kate asks me.
"Are you serious?" I stare at her wide-eyed.
"Of course I am. I really need a third waitress in the restaurant. We built an extension to the building a few months ago and my other two waitresses are totally overworked. I know you have to be in school during the lunch-hour rush, but you can help in the evenings. It would mean longer workdays now and then, but of course, it would also mean a bigger pay check."
"That sounds great!" I squeak with delight. "I moved into another apartment a few days ago and I could really use the extra money."
"Okay, so let´s go to my office and take care of the paperwork."
***
I´m already off at 5 pm that afternoon. Kate sent me home as a belated birthday present, like she said. She also gave me a little time off until Sunday because the restaurant is gonna be redecorated over the weekend. I´ve decided to stop at the supermarket on my way home, to buy food. Angel told me that she´ll be home around 7 o´clock and I want to cook something for her this time.
I'm on my way down the steps to the subway station when I bump into someone else, who is going in the opposite direction.
"Oh, sorry, I didn´t..." I start to apologize, but when I lift my gaze the rest of the words stick in my throat. Max! And to his left: Michael. Fantastic.
Maybe it'd be best to just leave.
"Look who's here!" Max says with an amused grin and he takes a step forward in a show of strength. "How irresponsible of Billy to let his little slut walk around New York all alone, when it´s almost dark."
I try to back off a little, but stumble when my foot misses the next step. Michael grabs my arm at the last moment, preventing me from falling to the ground.
"Leave her alone, Max," he says calmly, but his tone is determined.
Max looks at him, obviously startled by Michael's defence of me. "Should I remind you of just how many times Billy's intimidated Liz? He´s a bastard and..." then he turns to me, "...you are his bitch."
My heartbeat races as I see the angry look on his face. I slowly let my gaze shift to Michael – searching for help.
He seems to stop and think for a moment and then he nods more to himself than to me, takes a deep breath and stands up right next to me to face Max. "She's not anymore," he says confidently. I wonder where all his strength comes from.
Max looks at him puzzled, but suddenly he gets it. "She's the reason you´ve been so busy lately, right? Michael, are you fuckin' kidding me?!" He screams loud enough that all the people around us can hear it. "God, I should have known it the moment I saw you two at your apartment. And you told me all this bullshit..." Max grasps Michael by his collar and lifts his other hand, clenching his fist.
Michael doesn´t do anything to protect himself. "Go ahead, Max! Hit me. What are you waitin' for?"
Max lowers his fists in slow motion and turns his gaze to me. "Leave, now!" he growls.
I risk one short look at Michael who just nods, and I run down the steps – still freaked out and worried.
***
"Hey," Angel opens the door smiling, "you´re cooking."
"I try."
"So, how was your day? I didn't think you'd be here yet."
"My boss let me go home early because of my birthday. And, I got a promotion."
"Wow, that´s great."
"Yeah," I answer, but it doesn't sound very excited even to my own ears. I'm still all churned up inside.
"You don't sound very enthusiastic to me. Is everything okay?" She takes off her jacket and joins me in the kitchen.
"No, not really, I guess."
She takes some plates out of the cupboard and starts to set the table. "Wanna tell me about it?"
I get the pizza I've made out of the oven and set in on the table. "Well," I sit down on the opposite side of the table, "to cut the matter short, Max knows about Michael and me now. Max is his best friend in case I hadn't told you."
She almost chokes on her food. "Oh."
"Yeah. Double oh!"
"How did he react?"
"Not so good, as you can imagine. They screamed at each other. Okay, you might as well say Max screamed at Michael. And he almost hit him."
"Almost? What does that mean?"
"He changed his mind. Then he told me to leave. Maybe he hit him later. I don´t know. I haven´t heard from Michael."
"Surely, he'll come by later. Or, at least he'll call you."
I just nod and try to eat some of the pizza, even though I'm not hungry at the moment.
***
Angel and I sit on the couch and watch a total silly movie. I don't even know the name of it. It´s almost 10 pm and I still haven´t heard anything from Michael. I look at my cell phone for the thousandth time, but there's still nothing.
"Cool down, Maria'" my roommate says again.
"I´m gonna go shower. Will you...?"
"I'll answer your phone and I'll let him in, Maria. Of course, I will."
I smile softly. "Sorry, I'm a total basket case, I know it."
She smiles back. "You're not. It's okay."
***
I sigh as the hot water runs down my body. This day began just perfect, why couldn't it end that way?
I can't think of anything except the confrontation between Max, Michael, and me. Why hasn't he called yet? I'm sure he knows that I'm a total wreck right now. I try to imagine what could have happened after I left.
Did Max hit Michael later? Or did they just fight with words? Did Max tell the other Bandits about it? That would be bad, 'cause two of them are in my class.
Or – and this scares me the most – did Max convince Michael that he can´t see me anymore? They've been best friends for years now. Michael wouldn't risk that friendship for a girl would he?
The moment I turn off the shower, I hear the doorbell ringing. I hold my breath and listen carefully. "Hey, Michael!" Angel's voice. "Come in. Maria´s showering, but I think she´ll be out soon."
"Maria?" Angel knocks softly on the bathroom door.
"Yeah?"
"Michael's here for you. I'm going to bed now. G'night."
"G'night."
I step out of the shower and look at the closed door. What is waiting for me on the other side? Someone who tells me that everything will be okay or someone who wants to end things between us?
I´ll find out soon enough.