It was packed. The only booth that hadn’t been packed was six and now it was filled.
Maria turned and her mouth dropped. Sitting in booth six was Michael Guerin, Isabel Evans, and her own best friend Alex Whitman. This was a problem. The problem was Michael…
“Hello, and welcome to the Crash Down what can I get for you?” Maria asked keeping her eyes trained on the note pad in front of her.
“I’d like some men in blackberry pie.” Isabel answered handing the blonde waitress her menu.
“I’d like my usual.” Alex said smiling at her.
Alex with Isabel… that would be interesting.
“And for you?” Maria asked chancing a look at Michael.
He was silent… what did he want? He had thought all he wanted was her body- but now? It seemed like he wanted much more.
“I guess just give me a cherry cola.” Michael said shrugging indecisively.
“You are the last order before my break so I’ll be back soon.” Maria said smiling at all of them.
She went to put their order in before taking and delivering orders for tables five, nine, and three.
As soon as table six’s order came up she grabbed it quickly and practically ran to their table dropping the plates in their appropriate places with a exhausted sigh.
“Tired much?” Alex asked looking at his friend with concern.
“Yeah and those two ass holes keep bugging the shit out of me- it’s so not helping.” She said her head motioning to Tommy and Paulie’s table.
“They bug us all.” Isabel said shaking her head.
Michael looked at the boys with a small sneer.
“How’s Max doing?” Maria asked looking concerned.
“He’s fine. He keeps begging mom to let him out of the house but she refuses to even let him out of his bed half the time. It’s only been three days and he thinks he’s super man or something.” Isabel said smiling at the thought of her brother, “What about Liz?”
“She’s sore as can be poor thing. She keeps asking her mom to let her go see Max though. Mrs. Parker refuses of course. So the poor girl is stuck in bed with the phone permanently attached to her ear talking to guess who, Maxwell.” Maria said in an exaggerated dreamy voice.
“Jealous?” Michael asked snorting scornfully.
“Over them? No way. You should hear them on the phone it’s enough to make you gag.” Maria said her nose scrunching up in what Michael thought to be the cutest facial expression in the world at that very moment.
“I know exactly what you mean.” Isabel said rolling her eyes.
“I’m off to break!” Maria said joyously as she turned around and walked into the back room.
“She’s not as bad as I thought she was.” Isabel said thoughtfully.
“Whatever.” Michael said taking a gulp of his soda. His eyes fluttered from the back room to two figures sitting across the crashdown… Tommy and Pauile.
His blood began to boil just at the thought of them… Suddenly Tommy stood up and walked casually to the back room leaving a grinning Pauile behind.
Michael shot out of his chair instantly.
“What’s wrong?” Isabel asked worried.
“Nothing just have to use the bathroom facilities.” He said quickly as he walked out of the booth and towards the bathroom, instead of going into the bathroom he made a quick left and found himself standing right behind Tommy who had Maria pinned to the wall.
“You still scared baby?” Tommy asked as he let one finger trail down her cheek.
“Let me go Tommy!” Maria said her wrist struggling against him.
“Oh come on honey, be nice. Just give Tommy what he wants.” Tommy said leaning in to kiss her.
Michael reached out and grabbed Tommy’s hair pulling him backwards.
“Guerin?” Tommy asked in confusion and pain as he spun around to find Michael seething in rage.
Michael was scared… terrified actually. He didn’t want to hurt Tommy. That was a lie. He didn’t want to hurt Tommy in front of Maria. She shouldn’t see such vulgar things.
“Why don’t we have a little talk outside?” Michael asked calmly as he dragged Tommy out the back way of the café by his shirt.
“Michael!” Maria called out as the back door slammed behind the boys making her cry inaudible to them.
Maria ran to the door and opened it slightly, so Michael couldn’t see her watching the display.
*
“Michael what’s up with you? Protecting the ditz? Why?” Tommy asked as he stood up and backed away from Michael slightly.
“No reason. But if you touch her again I will hurt you. I will slam you so hard against the ground that the sound of your bones cracking echoes. Then I will beat you until you no longer scream- until you no longer breathe. I will kill you without a second thought.” Michael said getting up in Tommy’s face pure rage showing in his eyes.
Tommy again backed off slightly. But he was not one to stand by and get threatened, “What’s this all about Guerin? She your bitch?”
“You mother…” Michael began as he stepped forward again.
“She an easy lay?” Tommy dared liking the reaction he was getting out of the boy.
Michael lunged and Tommy never saw it coming. Tommy was flat on his back and Michael was straddling him pounding his fist into his nose and face repeatedly. Michael received a disturbing pleasure as he felt the other boy’s nose break under his assaults.
Suddenly there were hands on Michael’s back pulling him up.
He whirled around to see a very scared Maria DeLuca trying to get his attention.
Michael got off of Tommy immediately, “If you say a word about this to any one, even your little Homo bitch Paulie I won’t stop until your life does.”
With that Michael walked into the Crashdown pulling Maria with him.
“What the hell were you thinking Michael?” Maria began angrily.
“My apartment,” Michael said regaining his composure slightly, “Meet me at my apartment tonight.”
Michael began to dig through his pockets till he found his key ring; “Here are my keys. You can’t tell anyone about that.” Michael finished motioning towards the back exit of the café.
“Michael…” Maria tried again.
“What?” Michael snapped running his hand through his hair and wincing.
“Let me see.” She commanded and Michael reluctantly let her look his hand over… it was turning a nice purple shade.
Maria put a tender kiss to the back of his hands making sure not to come in contact with the bruising knuckles.
“Thank you.” She said softly.
Michael nodded not able to speak. His emotions were tearing him apart so much that his brain couldn’t possibly form a coherent sentence. He quietly turned around and made his way back over to his table.
“What happened, you take a detour to the Smithsonian or something?” Alex asked grinning at Michael.
“Something like that.” Michael said nodding his head slightly as he sat down and hid his hands under the table.
*
“Max?” Liz asked as she watched her boyfriend slowly climb through her bedroom window.
“Hey, how you feeling?” He asked softly, standing at the base of her bed.
“Better then I did yesterday. What are you doing here Max?” Liz asked sitting up slightly and wincing.
“Checking on you.” He smiled at her. With concern clearly in his eyes he walked towards her and made her lay back down, “The doctors told you not to move too much. You’ll pop your stitches.”
“I hate this stupid bed. I’ve been bed ridden for the past three days! The only things I’m allowed to get up for is to go to the bathroom and bathe!” Liz said frustration evident in her voice.
“That explains why you smell like strawberries.” Max said gently lowering himself next to her on the bed.
“Why didn’t you just come through the front door?” Liz asked looking back over at her opened window.
“Because I didn’t think your mom would let you have visitors.” Max said laying his arm beside hers and intertwining their fingers.
“You’re right. I just don’t like the idea of you climbing up my latter after the wreck. I mean Max, you’re human don’t push yourself, let your body heal.” Liz criticized scooting closer to her boyfriend making her shirt rub against her stitches and she winced in pain.
“You’re human too you know? Let yourself heal. I’m fine. I’m not the one that had surgery.” Max pointed out kissing her forehead.
“My mom said it was the dash bored that some how bent my rib just enough to puncture my lungs but not to break it.” Liz said. Far away dazed look conquered her eyes as she continued, “He died didn’t he?”
Max almost missed the whispered pained question. Solemnly he answered “His name was Hank Whitmore.”
“Mom said he was drunk.” Liz said nuzzling her head against Max’s chest.
“He was.” Max admitted staring down at her fondly, “I keep thinking that maybe I should have saw him or something you know? Like maybe some how it’s my fault he’s dead.”
“Look at me Max,” Liz commanded gently forcing Max’s dark eyes to met her warm amber ones, “It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. This accident couldn’t have been avoided by you or even by me. And to tell you the truth, as selfish as it might sound, if it was you or him I would chose you in a heartbeat.”
“I’ve known you forever and I know that we’ve only dated for a little while, but I know I love you Liz Parker.” Max said softly leaning in for a kiss.
“I love you too, Max Evans.” Liz said as his lips softly caught hers in a soul soaring kiss.
*
“OK, so what are we going to do tonight?” Isabel asked as she looked from Michael to Alex.
“Well I have plan so I guess it’s just you and ge... Alex.” Michael said looking at the boy apologetically.
“It’s OK Michael, I know all about my nick name as geek boy.” Alex said shrugging it off with no damage.
“You’re not a geek. You’re now dating the most popular girl in school.” Isabel said nudging him softly.
“Right so now I’m super geek boy.” Alex said teasing her.
Michael looked on as Isabel smiled happily… the wreck had obviously prioritized her thinking… no boy had ever made her happy… Whitman was good for her. And if Maria thought so highly of him then he probably wasn’t that bad… since when did her approval hold any stake in his thoughts?
“Since when have you two been dating?” Michael asked reprocessing their statements.
“Since the night Max and Liz crashed.” Isabel said leaning forwards and stealing one of Alex’s fries.
“It’s the massage, I’m telling you.” Alex said into her ear.
“Later guys.” Michael said leaning over and kissing Isabel on the cheek.
“Bye.” Isabel called stealing another fry.
“Hey!” Alex said forgetting about Michael and trying to protect his endangered fries.
*
“Honey, I’m home.” Maria called as she let herself into Michael’s apartment and kicked off her shoes by the front door.
“You’re late. Dinner’s cold.” Michael mimicked her from days before.
“Ha- funny spiderspike. So why am I here?” She asked tossing the keys on the coffee table as she sat down beside him on the couch.
“Because I wanted to,” Michael took a big breath so that he could just shove the others words out of his mouth, “apologize for what you saw.”
“You shouldn’t have beaten him up Michael. He now knows that we have some connection.” Maria said glancing at his hand that was covered by an ice pack.
“Oh well, he deserved to get the crap beaten out of him. I’m just sorry you had to watch.” Michael said shifting so that he sat towards her instead of straight ahead.
Maria casually leaned back and propped her feet on his lap, “Michael what happens if he tells someone what you did. There will be rumors… you know what this could do to our rep?”
“Yours would improve.” Michael said before he thought about it.
“Please if anything I’d be shunned. The preppaziods wouldn’t accept me and the freakazoids I usually hang with would just think I’m a traitor.” Maria scoffed hurt slightly.
“Well the freaks hate the jocks, the populars, so your friends would hate my group more and my group would just think it’s an easy lay as Tommy so tactfully assumed earlier." Michael said staring at her feet.
“This is going to ruin everything…” Maria said putting her head in her hands.
“How could you be so careless?” Michael asked.
“Careless? Me?” Maria couldn’t believe this, “I wasn’t the one who beat Tommy to a pulp now was I?”
“No but if you wouldn’t have let him get close enough to hurt you we wouldn’t be having this problem.” Michael said pushing her feet off of his lap and rocketing to a standing position.
“Let him get close? Michael, I was standing with my back to him. I didn’t think it was Tommy that came in!” Maria said standing too.
“You didn’t turn around and check or anything?” Michael asked accusingly.
“I didn’t think it was Tommy. I knew someone was behind me but I didn’t think it was Tommy. When I did finally turn around he had me pinned.” Maria said glaring at the floor.
“Who did you think it was Blondie? The frigin’ Easter Bunny? Or do you whore to him too?” Michael asked. He couldn’t believe how mean he was being, he was acting like a grade A bastard and he knew it. His initial instinct had taken over when he didn’t know what to do. He lashed out and blamed the first person he saw… the one who wasn’t at fault.
Maria was boiling with bitterness, “I thought it was you! OK, I thought you had come back there to work out an experiment schedule. Sorry!”
Maria’s head was spinning how could he be such an ass hole? The night… after the crash… what happened? What was she supposed to do? What the hell was she supposed to think with his mixed, and royally screwed up, signals blaring in her mind?
“Maria I didn’t mean…” Michael began softer trying to regain control of himself.
“Apologizing now? Listen you mother fucking ass hole… I don’t give a damn whether you’re sorry or not. It wasn’t my fault Tommy came back there. It wasn’t my FAULT I didn’t know it was him. And it certainly wasn’t my fault that you let your JEALOUS hormones run wild!” Maria screeched before making her exit and slamming Michael’s apartment door as hard as she could.
Michael stood there pained and regretful. Every word out of her mouth had been a slap to the face but nothing could have possibly hurt more than the wounded look in her eyes… he had just took the best thing he had known in years and offended it by blaming her for his own stupidity. He had gone too far… and the pathetic thing was words that were lies had just cost him the only true thing he knew…
He quickly raced to the window to watch Maria run out the front door of the apartment buildings and towards her Jetta.
He hastily threw open the window and called to her, “MARIA!”
Her head snapped back and an icy glare stopped his heart, “What?”
The venom in her voice could have killed him on the spot… that is if the tear tracks down her cheeks didn’t.
“Come back.” He requested swallowing the dread in his throat… they had fought for years but never had he thought he hurt her so bad.
“Fuck you!” she said her eyes blazing with contempt for one Michael Guerin.
“Then at least let me come down.” Michael said pleadingly.
Maria thought briefly… if he did come down then his neighbors would know what was going on and for some reason this specific argument wouldn’t make either of them look too moral.
She took a deep breath and forced her rebelling feet to walk back to the entrance and climbed the stairs.
Michael met her at the door and closed as soon as she entered.
She whirled on him when she heard the click of the lock. Her hand darted out fast and hard.
Michael’s head snapped to the side with the force of her strike. His teeth clenched when she hit and he could now taste the metallic iron flavor in his mouth.
Michael looked at Maria surprised although he really shouldn’t have been. He was about to say something but his breath caught when he saw her eyes. They were completely void of everything but pain and hatred…
“What?” Maria asked again.
Michael took her wrist. She tried profusely to yank her self free from his grasp but he was still too strong. He made her accompany him to the bathroom and to Maria’s surprise he spit in the sink and his saliva was blood red… she had meant to make his cheek sting but she had not meant for him to bite a hole through his tongue.
“Michael…” Maria began to offer an apology when he cut her off.
“I deserved it.” He said rinsing out his mouth.
“If I let you go will you stay right here?” Michael asked his free hand grabbing for his tooth brush.
Maria only nodded as Michael started to brush his teeth.
As he brushed his tongue he slightly winced. Maria winced too… just imagining the pain… she looked at the side of his face. There, as bright as day, was a scarlet handprint.
“Michael…” Maria tried again.
“Come on let’s go back to the living room.” Michael suggested motioning towards the door. Maria tried to catch his eyes but he was skillfully avoiding hers.
Maria was puzzled as to why he wasn’t yelling at her… he didn’t even look angry any more he looked hurt more than anything else, hurt and regretful.
“Maria before you interrupt me let me just explain my self a little?” Michael said looking from his hands to the couch as he sat down and motioned her to take a seat beside him.
“When I get alarmed I blame the people around me even if it isn’t their fault… You didn’t do anything wrong at the Crashdown. It wasn’t your fault that you’re beautiful and some creep thought he was worthy. And it’s my fault we’re in this mess. I can’t say that I’m sorry for my actions. I’m just sorry that you had to see them and I’m sorry you’re going to suffer the consequences too.” Michael explained focusing a little harder than necessary to the left of Maria’s head so he didn’t have to look at her as he explained why he was a dumb ass, insensitive, prick.
“Apology accepted.” Mara began, “Why did you do that anyway? Why attack him?”
“Because he was hurting you and you don’t deserve to be hurt… and I am so sorry if I hurt you Maria.” Michael said finally looking into her eyes.
Her eyes portrayed confusion… he had never cared before… what had changed? Did he actually like her, or even love her? Was he just the heroic type that went around saving all the damsels in distress?
“The funny thing is Tommy was right. I am just an easy lay… I mean think about it- all it took was one infuriating grin and a social project and I agreed to jump into bed with you.” Maria said her guilt about her decision coming to a head.
“Maria you’re not…” Michael began to object moving closer to her but she interrupted him.
“Yes I am, Michael think about. This is casual sex… we’re both an easy lay.” Maria said shaking her had.
Michael had to chuckle… he never thought he’d be a one night stand, casual thing…
“We are kind of sick you know that?” Maria asked as an after thought.
Michael just laughed a little more… she had a point.
Michael looked at her again. He took in her appearance and personality all in one look… she was Maria DeLuca, the most annoying girl he had ever met, the only person who didn’t pity him because of his past, his social class partner, his school mate, his mortal enemy… and the only girl he had ever loved…
“You’re not an easy lay… and this” He motioned between them, “Isn’t going to be casual sex.”
With that he leaned forward and seized her lips with his.
Maria was taken by surprise, to say the least, but she quickly recovered as she began to kiss him back letting all of her passion out in that one earth shattering, mind melting, heart quickening kiss.
Maria pulled back but not because she wanted to but because her lungs felt like they were about to collapse, and truthfully she would have let them if it didn’t mean no more kissing.
“Michael,” She began another sentence that wouldn’t be finished.
Michael pulled her up off the couch and picked her up effortlessly as he made the way to his bedroom.
Once in side the familiar territory he set her down in front of the bed and began to pull her shirt over her head. She let him and it was soon the start of a pile. Once Michael removed her clothing. He laid her gently on the bed and began to worship her body… His lip traced everything from the inside of her knee to her ear lobe.
He concentrated solely on his hearts desire… Maria. His tongue tortured her naked breast as he his hands ravished her body.
She pulled his head up regretfully but she wanted… needed to feel more of him. He allowed her to remove his shirt, kissing each and every section of his torso, and then his pants and boxers leaving them both in the bare.
Maria began to delight Michael as she kissed every single part of his body her lips came in contact with…
He began to kiss down her neck, one hand on her hips and one on his own hardened flesh.
He began to proceed when the memory of Maria’s virginity flashed across his clouded mind.
“Maria,” Michael breathed his voice low and throaty, “Are you sure because this is going to hurt you… and I don’t want to hurt you.”
Maria’s eyes found his and she smiled at him.
“I love you.” Michael leaned down to breath into her ear.
Maria’s eyes widened at the admission. Had she heard him right? The fearful, expectant look on Michael’s face confirmed that she indeed had.
“I love you too.” And with those words Michael kissed her as he gently advanced.