Maria Deluca stood at the counter in the Crashdown Café. She stuffed her order book into her pocket and stared at the two aliens sitting at the booth furthest away from the entrance. C'mon Deluca get it together and get over there and act normal. She really thought she had gotten over Michael this summer and you'd think she would definitely be over him after the whole Courtney deal, but no she still loved the stupid goof. Even though he'd put her through hell, and caused hundreds of bad nights, some part of her still loved him.

Maria groaned. She wished she could stop thinking about the stupid Czechs. Her eyes glanced over at Max. Through the summer they had gotten close, even become best friends. He had promised they'd be friends forever but as soon as Liz got back Maria wasn't important anymore. It seemed like all the men that had been in her life abandoned her: her father, Max and even Michael. To think the jerk had even tried to call her after that whole Courtney thing. God! How could she be so stupid? She always seemed to fall for the assholes! She glanced at the clock; ok only ten minutes left on her shift. She walked over to their table trying to pretend everything was normal.

"Do you guys want anything?" Maria politely inquired.

"Uh...Yeah, can I get an MIB berry pie and a Will Smith Burger, to go?" Max responded. He wondered if he should ask her when Liz was working, but decided against it. She looked a little unhappy at the moment and she seemed kind of distant.

"Yeah, sure, anything else you guys?" Maria was ready to leave this group. She wanted to get home, put up her feet and dream of an alien free Roswell.

"Nah. thanks." Max said. He noticed her deliberately ignoring Michael. It was kind of amusing, but then he thought of the way Michael had treated her and got a little pissed off. Why had he been such a jerk?

Maria faked a smile and then turned on her heel. She thought she'd never get away from them.

Michael stared at Maria walking away. Damn! It felt like she was walking out of his life. He'd tried to call her but she was never there, conveniently. He knew he had hurt her, but with Courtney it was . . . it was just different and he didn't know how to explain it to her. So he finally decided to let Maria go. They hadn't talked in three weeks and probably; by the way things were going, never again.

Max looked at Michael staring at Maria and shook his head sadly. Michael had royally screwed up one of the best things he'd ever had. Oh well! They'd probably get back together within the week. Though he must admit it had been a long time since they'd spoken. Actually it had been a long time since he'd spoken to her either.

Liz entered the Crashdown and glanced at Max on her way to the back.

Max's head shot up as Liz walked into the Crashdown and into the back room. God! He still couldn't believe she had slept with Kyle. KYLE, of all people. Even though they had agreed to be friends, it still hurt. A lot.

-----------------------------------

Maria was in the back taking off her uniform when she heard Liz come in.

"Hey babe! What's up?"

Liz kept her head down and tried to forget Max's face when she walked inside the Crashdown.

"Oh, Maria! If I'd known keeping a secret was this hard I'd never have helped the future Max. And maybe Max and I would still be together!" Liz turned into Maria and sobbed her heart out.

Maria opened her arms to Liz. Damn. She hated to see Liz this way but sometimes she wondered if Liz ever stopped thinking about her problems. She never seemed to care that Maria was hurting too.

"Don't cry, hon. I'll help you through this."

"Maria" Liz said quietly as she released herself from Maria's arms.

"Yeah?" Maria could see Liz swallow hard.

"I still love him."

"I know."

Back at home; Maria was lying on her bed with her head propped up against the pillows. She turned her head at the quiet knock at her window. She glanced at the clock. It was 10:50. It could only be one person. He hadn't come to visit her in awhile. She beckoned him in with her hand.

The window clicked open and he dropped into her room.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey, yourself" Maria replied. "Where've you been?"

"Around. I wanted to...to come but everything's been so...so hectic for the last couple of weeks." He answered. "So, I thought I'd let things simmer down a little".

He waited for her reaction. Normally if hadn't come in awhile she wouldn't care. But this time was longer and she'd probably been through hell in the last couple of weeks. He watched her turn to the wall facing away from him. It felt like a rejection and it hurt.

"Why weren't you here when I needed you??" Maria asked quietly. Anger was creeping into her voice.

"I...I just needed some time after what happened with...well..." He knew she was upset. And it hurt 'cause she was never upset with him. Ever.

"Of course...You're obviously more important. I mean just because I'm your best friend doesn't mean you'd want to be there for me." She sobbed. Bitter memories were chasing into her head and she fought hard to get them out.

He waited, knowing she wanted to say more.

"Are you gonna leave me like he did?"

He was shocked. How could she think that? He couldn't stand to see her like this. He walked over to the bed and cradled her in his arms. He kissed her brow. "I would never abandon you like your father." "You know I wouldn't...I'm sorry...really sorry." He silently took of his shoes and crawled into the bed with her, not letting go for one second. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her hair.

"I'm sorry Maria."

"I know...I know you are, Max," Maria whispered before she fell asleep in his arms.

In the morning she would be mad. But for now Max could just rest peacefully, which he hadn't done since...since forever.