(14) Aftermath/Epiphany


While the sun shines on you
I need some love to rain on me
Still I sit all alone
Wishing all my feelings was gone
Gotta get over you
Nothing for me to do
But have one last cry

One last cry
Before I leave it all behind
I goota put you out of my mind
For the very last time
Been living a lie
I guess I'm down, I guess I'm down
I guess I'm down...
I guess I'm down...
To my last cry...

Nightmares plagued Tess all night long. Maria and Isabel were by her side constantly comforting the younger girl back to sleep.

“I can’t believe how evil some people can be.” Maria started late into the night.

“Tell me about it.” Isabel sat curled up into her blanket. “So you’re positive you heard Jeff and Mark’s voice?”

Maria nodded. “Yeah, there’s no mistaking what I heard.”

“And they mentioned Liz and Michael’s name?” Isabel confirmed.

“Yeah. He was saying something about how Liz thought it would be more sweeter if he was the one to…” She couldn’t finish that thought. She just shook her head.

“How could she do something so reprehensible like that? I though Tess was her friend.” Isabel asked in shock.

Maria shrugged. “I guess that just goes to show you that bitches don’t have friends. And as to why she did it, who can say. Maybe she was jealous. I don’t know. All know is that she went to far this time. She chose the wrong girl to scheme against. She chose the wrong method of whatever evil deed she was trying to accomplish.”

Isabel nodded. “Eventually Kyle is going to find out. Tess’ dad is going to find out.”

Maria shuddered. “Once he finds out all hell will break loose. He’s even worse than Kyle and Alex combined. He’s the freaking sheriff of this city. Heads will roll and I do mean roll.”

“Good. It’s no less than they deserve. And Liz needs to be hit with the worse of it.”

Maria agreed. “And Michael… God, I can’t believe I allowed myself to be blinded by his true self. When I was with him tonight I realize that he did not have one true thought in his head. Everything he said was Liz this or I’m so that. A conceited boy for a very conceited girl.”

Maria stretched out on her back, propped up her arms behind her head, and stared up at the ceiling. “They deserve one another and once more they deserve to be incarcerated like the assholes they are.”

“Forget incarceration… I say we string them up like they used to do to horse thieves back in the old days.” Both girls laughed at the image that came to mind.

Isabel settled down into her blanket and pillow. “Anyway, it’s getting late. We should get some sleep.”

Maria sighed and curled up with her pillow. “G’night then.”

“Night.”

How Could The One I Gave My Heart To,
Break My Heart So Bad?
How Could The One Who Made Me Happy,
Make Me Feel So Sad?
Wont Somebody Tell Me?
So I Can Understand.
If You Love Me,
How Could You Hurt Me Like That?
How Could The One I Gave My World To,
Throw My World Away?
How Could The One Who Said I Love You,
Say The Things You Say?
How Could The One I Was So True Too,
Just Tell Me Lies?
How Could The One I Gave My Heart To,
Break This Heart Of Mine?
Tell Me.

The first thought that came to Maria’s mind when she woke up the next morning was; I never loved Michael. Hell I never even really liked him. It was always the idea of a nobody like me being with Mr. Popular.

She woke up with a smile on her face. Then she frowned as her eyes fell on Tess and all the memories of last night came rushing back to mind. Tess was up and staring at her. Traces of dried tears were on her face.

“Good morning Tess. How are you feeling?”

Tess sat up slowly and pushed the blankets aside. “Sore all over.” She tried to hold in a groan as she stood up.

“Tess I think you should go to the hospital.” Maria said in concern.

Tess shook her head vehemently. “Please, no doctors. I don’t want anyone to see me like this. I’ll be fine. Please?”

Maria slowly nodded, wanting to disagree so badly. “Okay Tess but just promise me that you don’t keep your pain bottled in. If you need anything Isabel and I will be readily available.”

Tess gave a shy smile. “Thank you so much.” Then in an embarrassed tone she asked. “Could you help me to the bathroom? I don’t think I can make it. I feel so wobbly.”

Maria jumped up and rushed to her side. “Sure. We shall baby you for as long as you needed.”

Isabel woke up at the tail end of the conversation. “We’ll probably smother you so much that you’ll be begging us to back off in a week.”

Tess grinned and said, before closing the bathroom door. “I doubt you two combined can smother me any more than Kyle by himself.”

“I don’t know now,” Isabel called out, “Alex is a pretty good role model.”

Isabel turned to face Maria who was sitting on the bed with a spaced out smile on her face. “Earth to Maria. What are you grinning about?”

Maria, who had been thinking about a song that just came to mind, looked up at Isabel startled. She blushed at the thoughts that followed the song. How could she have been so blind?

“Maria?” Isabel questioned when her friend continued to look right through her.

“Oh man, I’m sorry Isabel.” She laughed. “I was just thinking about a song that popped up in my head. You know that song by India Aria, Ready For Love?”

“No, I don’t think I’ve heard of it. How does it go? Sing it for me?” Isabel sat down on the bed and backed up against the headboard. Then she picked up a pillow and hugged it close to her.

“My voice is a little scratchy in the mornings.” Maria said.

“Ahh come on. I love to hear you sing.” Isabel whined.

“Okay. Here goes.” She opened her mouth and began to sing.

I am ready for love
Why are you hiding from me
I’d quickly give my freedom
To be held in your captivity

I am ready for love
All of the joy and the pain
And all the time that it takes
Just to stay in your good grace
Lately I’ve been thinking
Maybe you’re not ready for me
Maybe you think I need to learn maturity
They say watch what you ask for
Cause you might receive
But if you ask me tomorrow
I’ll say the same thing

I am ready for love
Would you please lend me your ear?
I promise I won’t complain
I just need you to acknowledge I am here

If you give me half a chance
I‘ll prove this to you
I will be patience, kind, faithful and true
To a man who loves music
A man who loves art
Respect’s the spirit world
And thinks with his heart

I am ready for love
If you’ll take me in your hands
I will learn what you teach
And do the best that I can
I am ready for love
Here with a offering of
My voice
My Eyes
My soul
My mind

Tell me what is enough
To prove I am ready for love

I am ready…

A small noise had Isabel looked over Maria’s shoulder. She smiled briefly when she saw Alex and Max open her door and peaked in. Tess was still in the restroom. Isabel focused back on Maria’s singing not bringing attention to the fact that the guys were standing in her doorway.

"That was really pretty Maria.” She said when the she had finished. “What brought that song to mind?”

Maria shrugged. “Well this morning I woke up with the thought that all this time I’ve been chasing love in the totally wrong direction. And all the time it was right before my eyes. I never had any true feelings for the person Michael. I was just in love with the idea of Michael.

Now I really know what love feels like and the person who I love probably doesn’t feel the same way.” She laughed. “Now I’m ready for love and it’s hiding from me so to speak.”

At the start of the conversation between the two girls Alex and Max were about to back up out of the room without announcing their presence. Then when Maria started to speak about not being in love with Michael, Max couldn’t force himself to move. He had to hear what she was saying. Alex tried to pull him away but he wouldn’t budge.

Isabel smiled at the antics of the two guys. She was surprised Maria didn’t hear them roughhousing, but then again Maria was lost in her own thoughts. “So who do you love?”

Maria blushed. “You’ll probably think me crazy. I mean he is my best friend after all.” She started.

Isabel gasped. “Oh my God. You like Max.” She couldn’t help but blurt out.

Maria nodded. At that small sign of confession Max started grinning and he couldn’t seem to stop. He allowed Alex to pull him out of the room.

When the reached Alex’s room he finally spoke. “She likes me… Wait, no, she loves me.”

He stood staring and grinning off into space. Then he made the chi ching sound and movement. “Yes!”