Author: Bonnie belsheb2@slu.edu
Set-up: After Heatwave.
"Wow! Maria, isn't today just like the greatest day! I mean everything seems right with the world!" Liz bubbled over with way too much enthusiasm for Maria.
"Um, no actually the universe pretty much sucks and can kiss my ass right now" Maria muttered knowing that it didn't matter what she said because just then Max, Isabelle, and ugh Michael walked through the front door.
"Hey Guys!" Liz bounded over happily to her new friends.
"Hi Liz" Isabelle smiled at Liz. She knew that Liz made her brother happy and recently Liz and Isabelle have been getting closer themselves. In fact, Isabelle was actually happy that Liz and Max were together. Not that she would ever admit this to anyone.
Max just sat there with a goofy smile on his face staring up at his girlfriend. Just thinking about Liz as his girlfriend made him smile. Remembering their kisses made him squirm in his seat.
Michael noticed Max shifting and smirked at the awkwardness of the situation. It was probably as close to laughing as Michael ever got.
"So Max is it hot in here or is it just you?" Michael said sarcastically. He wasn't in the mood to deal with Max and Liz's perfect romance today.
Max and Liz both looked down at the floor, with bright red faces, and tried to think of something to change the subject. They didn't have to because Isabelle saved them.
"Gee Michael that reminds me", Isabelle smiled sweetly, "I haven't seen much of Maria much since the heatwave"
Michael glared at Isabelle as it was now Max's turn to laugh. Liz was not as amused because she knew what Michael has said to Maria and on behalf of her best friend Liz was not happy with Michael either. Isabelle didn't notice the look on Liz's face.
"Oh wait, you saw plenty of her during the heatwave" Isabelle knew just how to push Michael's buttons.
"Yeah well, I don't think he's going to be seeing any of her now" Liz said still looking down at the floor.
"Why not?" Max suddenly spoke sensing the new serious turn of the conversation.
"Ask Michael" Liz spoke plaintively and turned to walk around the counter and get the three aliens some tabasco sodas. It would also allow Michael a chance to talk to them and Liz wanted to know his side of the story. She had faith that Max would tell her what Michael thought.
"WHAT!" Michael exclaimed.
"What happened?" Max asked, concerned for his friend.
"I don't know. It's confusing. God, she's confusing"
Isabelle sat there glaring at Michael. "Oh my God Michael I told you not to get involved and now, just because you couldn't keep your hormones in check, you throw everything out of whack!" Isabelle stood up and walked to the counter not noticing the tall, wiry boy sitting next to her.
"Hey Isabelle" he said shyly.
"Oh Alex hi!" Isabelle smiled a true smile at Alex. She really was relieved that he was talking to her.
"Listen I'm sorry" They both spoke at the same time.
"No you go"
"Okay" They continued their simultaneous conversation until Isabelle yelled "Wait!" a litlle louder than she meant to as every other customer but the two boys at the booth turned to look at her.
"Um what I mean is, is Alex I am sorry about the party"
"No Isabelle I'm sorry. I mean you were dealing with so much and I was just concerned about myself"
"Well let's just say that we both learned alot about each other"
Alex looked at Isabelle "What did you learn about me?"
"That I was right. We can trust you"
"Thank you Isabelle"
"Thank you Alex"
Meanwhile in the back of the Crashdown
"I cannot believe that he has the nerve to show up here" Maria fumed throwing her bag down on the ground. She kicked off her shoes and sat down to change into her gross, green alien uniform of the Crashdown Cafe.
"Maria, maybe he came to apologize. And...and I'm sorry. I know the last thing you need right now is my constant sunshine-"
"Blown up my ass?"
"Well, I was going to say my sunshiny point of view but I think we both get the point"
"Speaking of point. I don't suppose that you have a nice pointy ice-pick do you?" Maria asked with a gleam in here eyes.
"Um no I don't think so. WHY Maria?" Liz sounded nervous even though she probably already knew the answer to her query.
"Well I just thought that Michael could use another hole in his head." Maria smiled at the visions of revenge against Michael in her head.
"No wait", Maria said that might be too intense. Maybe I'll just run him over with my car. That would be more fitting for him and I'm sure he would appreciate the irony"
"Maria" Liz said with a hint of warning in her voice.
"What? What did I say?"
"Nothing" Liz sighed and left Maria to change. Well, at least she wasn't crying Liz thought. Of course, Liz knew that Maria's angry act was just that, and act. It was her best friend's way of covering up her hurt. That and she hoped her best friend wasn't really haboring secret homocidal tendencies.
At the booth Max was still staring at Michael waiting for him to explain exactly what Liz meant by her comment.
"Michael, what happened?" Max asked looking at his friend with concern.
"I don't know it was...I don't know Max" Michael pursed his lips and looked really uncomfortable. "It was the heatwave. It confused things and now I fixed it"
"What do you mean fixed it?"
"I told her that I don't get intense and we maybe made a mistake. We should've never done anything to begin with. That was my fault and now I fixed it"
"Michael why? I thought that you liked her?"
Michael looked away for a moment before turning back to Max. His head screamed at him *You DO like her* But his mouth said "Look I had some fun, she had some fun. I ended it and she got hurt like I knew she would. But it's better that she's hurt now rather than later right?" Michael looked at Max hoping for the confirmation he knew wouldn't be coming.
"Better for who Michael? Better for Maria or better for you?"
Michael didn't answer he just looked pissed and turned away. His eyes caught a quick scene thru the swinging door as Liz came out. Michael only saw for a split second but it was enough to send Michael flying out of seat.
Jose, the cook who is always hitting on Maria (pretty damn close to sexual harassment if you ask Michael) was spying on Maria as she changed in the back. Maria had stripped to her bra and shorts only. It took Michael less than three seconds to bound over to Jose and slam him through the door.
"What the hell do you think you are doing!!!" Michael growled intensely into Jose's ear. Jose jumped up quickly and fell thru the door. Both men stumbled into the room. Maria shrieked as she saw the two fall towards her. Michael had grabbed onto Jose and pushed him into the ground. Jose hit his head on the ground and was knocked out.
Maria started to fall back in surprise towards an open door and a set of stairs. The door was a large heavy iron door and the stairs led to an old bomb shelter in the basement of the crashdown. Michael saw Maria start to fall and he reached out to stop her. But he only managed to fall back with her. Michael felt himself falling backwards. He tried to hold onto the door but in his panic his powers only managed to slam the door shut. The two tumbled down the stairs. Maria and Michael fell in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. As Michael's eyes adjusted to the light he looked around at his new surroundings. They were in the old bomb shelter and surrounded by dusty boxes. Michael looked down at Maria. She had hit her head but was slowly starting to stir.
"Ooh god that hurt" Maria mumbled.
"Hey" was all the Michael replied because he was too busy noticing that Maria was laying under him half naked. Maria also seemed to notice that she was not exactly covered.
"God! Michael get off me! What the hell happened!"
"We fell" Michael didn't trust his voice a whole lot at the moment.
"Yeah, you know what I kinda figured out that part okay? Why did you and Jose come crashing thru the door when I was, no wait am, half naked?" Maria crossed her arms in front of her chest hoping to cover a little more than her lacy, near see-through bra.
"He was watching you"
"Ewwww oh I so did not need to know that. SO?"
"So what?" Michael asked *What the hell does she want now?*
"Your shirt" Maria replied as if she could read Michael's thoughts. "Can I wear your shirt or did you want another look?"
Michael looked at Maria before he took off his shirt, leaving him in jeans and a wife-beater.
"Thanks" Maria replied, grateful hat he hadn't put a fight for the shirt.
"No problem" Michael suddenly felt really uncomfortable in here with Maria. He knew that any more time in an enclosed space with her and he wouldn’t be able to control himself. "Maybe we should try and get out of here"
"Well" Maria said picking up on his awkwardness, "That may be a problem. You see spaceboy this is a soundproof bomb shelter with a broken door. That is why the door was propped open until you and you magical powers closed it"
"Well then how do we get out? And I told you they are not magical powers."
"Fine whatever and don't worry I know not to ask you to use them because I've seen what can happen. Look, Liz will notice the door shut and she'll call a locksmith or something. Besides my car is parked out back so they know we didn't leave"
Meanwhile out back a couple of hoods were stealing Maria's mom's Jetta.
"So don't worry. How long can we be stuck here?"