Summer had never been so warm in Roswell. It seemed where ever she turned the heat would hit her hard and bead her forehead with perspiration. The bizarre summer heat wave that had hit the December past had been unbearable, but this.... this was way beyond any heat that had found it's way into the dessert before.
She sat back on the lawn chair and let her hair fall over the back of the headrest. It wouldn't take long for her hair to dry in this weather. She glanced at her watch- 2:25pm. Almost a half an hour before she had to be at work her first shift in almost a month. She was glad that Mr. Parker had understood when she asked for some time off. She couldn't chance a run in with him, so soon after the incident with Pierce and the special unit. Not after all the events of that day.
"Maybe because I love you too much."
The words echoed in her head like storm waves in a cavern. They filled her heart with such joy and torment at the same time. She knew what came next.
"Goodbye."
Her eyes filled up on cue. The pain was still so raw. She didn't understand how he could walk away with a simple word and cause so much damage to her heart- all because he loved her.
She had been successful in avoiding him since then. She had given him his space and basically the run of the entire town. She stayed away. She and Liz had spent the better part of the last month curled up on Liz's couch watching movies. They'd seen almost every movie the local video store had in stock.
But now...now she was forced to head back into the real world. And that world included him.... somewhere. She ran her fingers through her hair. Almost completely dry. She stood, smoothing the wrinkles out of the abdomen of her uniform.
*Alright Maria, you can do this, You can do this.*
~~~~~
"Maria!!!" Liz shrieked with pleasure as Maria entered the front door. She ran across the dining room and flung her arms around Maria's neck. The few patrons of the Crashdown turned to look at the pair.
"Liz, sweetie, we were together last night remember? Sappy Julia Robert's movie's, milk shakes, root beer floats, and pizza! Any of this registering with you?" Liz was hanging off Maria's neck. She pulled back to look at her best friend. "And there is the added bonus that you're kinda making a scene."
Liz dropped her hands from around her pal and shrugged as they fell back at her sides. "A bit of excitement for all of the 10 people who decided to grace us with their presence this afternoon. And movie's and junk food hidden in my house isn't the same as having you back here at work. I missed you here!" She playfully hit Maria in the arm as she raked her antenna headband through her hair. "Besides," continued Liz as they walked behind the counter and Maria dropped her backpack under the register. "it's pretty slow. It should be an okay night."
Maria turned to grab her apron and order booklet as the door chimes rang. The loud chatter forced Maria to spin around and drop her jaw to the floor of the cafe. About 30 people walked into the restaurant and noisily tried to find seats near each other.
"This is your fault," Maria moaned, picking up a towel and winding it up tightly." You jinxed us!" she let the towel fly-twack! on Liz's left hip.
"Ow!!" Liz shrieked with laughter. "I'll grab the menu's "You inform the guys in kitchen." Liz turned and headed for the front of the store.
"Nothing like being thrown back into the tick of thing's" Maria mumbled, pushing past the swing door into the kitchen.
~~~~~
Liz cleared the counter in the kitchen as Maria puttered around the restaurants dinning room passing dishes through the serving window for her friend to load into the dishwasher. Liz yawned as Maria passed her the last of the remains.
"Tired, are we?" Maria chuckled.
"Well I'm not the one who kept napping through-out last night's movie marathon, now am I?" Liz pulled her hair back into a pony tail and managed a weak smile.
*This month has taken the good out of both of us* Maria thought. The Liz that stood before her was emotionally exhausted. She missed Max- maybe as much as she missed Michael.
But Liz still had contact with Max- not that she ever took advantage of it . She screened her calls and sent someone else to serve his table when he came into the diner, while she listened and looked on in anguish. He wasn't with Tess, but Liz refused to be the reason why he wouldn't take the path which was his destiny. Maria wished she had Liz's willpower. She was certain that if she ever put her arms around Michael again she'd never let go.
That wasn't the case though. Michael hadn't even breathed in her direction since that day in the museum. She'd seen him only once since then. The night she and Liz decided to venture out of the house to see the latest blockbuster at the mall. There he was. Looking as brooding and contemplative as ever, but more magnificently beautiful than ever before. Problem was in his black t-shirt and jeans he looked completely out of place in the trendy women's clothing store. Maria hid behind the corner and watched as Michael awkwardly waited for Isabel to finish browsing. She watched as he walked around the racks, running his fingers over the clothes, when suddenly he stopped.
Maria held her breath as his ears perked and he pursed his lips. Raising his eyebrows as his head slowly rose, he slowly scanned the store and then his eyes met the front of the boutique, as he continued his surveillance outside.
Maria pulled herself back around the corner and pressed her back against the wall as she exhaled. "He feels me here... damn it! He senses me." She looked around and saw that Liz was coming towards her so she walked hurriedly and grabbed her hand, dragging her to the opposite exit.
But since then, nothing. Maria thanked her lucky stars that she didn't have to see him on a daily basis, being summer vacation and all.
She shook herself from her memory and focused on her friend."Lizzy, go up to bed. Most of this is done. I can finish up here. You look like you are about to drop... go on upstairs."
Liz opened her mouth to protest, but Maria silenced her with a cupped hand.
"And I'm not taking no for an answer- no way. Go... GET!" She gently shoved Liz's shoulder and smiled. Liz leaned in and hugged her friend.
"Thank you" she whispered into her ear. "Don't you stay up too late either." She turned and walked up the stairs.
"Now..." Maria thought as she looked around the kitchen. " Get a cloth, wipe the counter and tables, stock up and I'm out of here." She picked up the rag at the end of the counter. "Dry." she said outloud. "To the faucet!" Heading to the back, she turned on the water and ran the towel under the stream. The water felt so good on her grease laden hands, she dropped the cloth and let the warmth travel along her forearms and trickle off her fingertips. She closed her eyes and envisioned the shower she would get when she got home. Soft jasmine soap and ceder scented shampoo... or maybe even a bath. She was almost sure she still had some of he special home made rose bubble bath left. She could even light her candles and just soak herself silly. She wouldn't have to worry about waking her mother. She was in Utah visiting her aunt for thenext week, so she could run the water cold and not have to worry.
The faucet water felt so good against her skin. Maria crept her eyes open just slightly and swooshed the water around ever so lightly, as if she thought a harsh move would break it. She smiled lightly. If was as if she couldn't wait and was about to jump into the sink itself right then and...
The chimes of the front door broke her from her bubbly fantasy and she froze like glacial ice. `I locked the door. I'm sure of it' she thought.`I locked it... didn't I?' Questioning herself, she forced her head to round the corner of the swinging door. The lights were off, just as she left them. Glancing around the cafe, everything seemed normal... but where had the chimes come from? She furrowed her brow and walked towards the door.
"Hello?" she asked, not too loud so as to not alert Liz."Umm... we're closed... hello?" She grazed her hand along the padlock on the door... still locked. Glancing up at the door chimes they sat completely still. She smiled and laid her forehead against the coldness of the door's window pain.
"I must be going crazy!" She chuckled. "That's it, I'm going crazy."
"I know I am." a voice rose from the darkness behind her. She didn't move, but sharply inhaled. She knew that voice. She knew it better than her own mind. Slowly she lifted her head from the glass and calmly turned to face him. He took a step forward from the darkness into the pale light that shone through the windows. It was him. He was there in front of her. Michael.