Rollercoaster

by

Domino

Part Eleven

Kyle and Isabel, it was decided were the best candidates for the job. Their popularity and Kyle's jock status made it okay to sit with the cheerleader/jock crowd that Maria now hung around with. It was part of the plan to get to speak to her. They figured if at least one person could get through to explain, they had chance. It didn't quite work out that way. Maria was already sitting there when they arrived. She didn't look at them, even after Kyle and Isabel greeted everyone except to acknowledge their arrival with a cold, "Kyle, Isabel."

They didn't let the freeze throw them and ignored the curious looks the others in the group sent their way, instead they sat down and began to make arbitrary conversation, as was the norm, pretending all was fine.

Maria had fallen asleep crying the night before and, this morning covered up the effects with light make-up. She'd evaded them somewhat this morning but had a close call in History. All of them were in the same class except Alex and they had totally closed her in, when they all sat around her preventing any escape. It was sheer will power that made her not get up and run or scream at them. And it was her renowned stubbornness and anger that allowed her to ignore them effectively despite their many attempts to converse.

After the History fiasco, Maria was careful not to get caught unawares and avoided them the rest of the day until now. At lunch, she figured she was safe. They didn't normally sit with the jocks and cheerleaders so she didn't' expect them to try anything. Still she wasn't too surprised when Kyle and Isabel showed up. A part of her was even slightly amused with their subtle attempts, and when she almost laughed aloud, Maria realised she was weakening. And it was then she freaked.

None of this was visible on her face, of course. She had become quite adept at hiding her thoughts - a fact for which she knew she could attribute mainly to Michael, and Isabel to some extent. They didn't deserve her. She couldn't afford to weaken - it would only lead to more hurt and she wasn't about to let that happen again. It was because of these thoughts, her voice froze when she greeted them, or to be more accurate acknowledged their presence.

The same stubbornness, one which they had been counting on, and strength she used in History made her sit through lunch and pretend, like them in a way that nothing was wrong. She was good at it too. No one except Kyle and Isabel noticed how she didn't address any of the happy conversation, that had everyone around her spellbound, to them. She ignored them completely and totally, and they felt it.

It was with relief that Maria stood when the bell rang. Pride made her stroll slowly away from the group, and the cheerleaders joined her in almost designed choreographed walk that cheerleaders sometimes innately possess. Maria led the way and automatically people moved away, clearing the path.

None of this, Maria noticed - her thoughts preoccupied and focused on remaining strong. She didn't see the cheerleaders adjust their walk, on reflex to hers (dance practise training them to do it), but it didn't go without notice to her friends who watched.

They felt slightly defeated but had expected this. After what they did, they didn't really expect her to make it easy on them and as Michael said rather wistfully, "Maria never made anything easy."

They couldn't do much the rest of the day, to their disappointment and her relief. With Maria no longer working at the Crashdown, no one was quite sure what she was doing. Isabel had discovered that Maria was working on a plan with the cheerleaders for the big game Friday, and in light of that, Kyle who was playing got them all front row seats on the floor of the court.

The week passed in the same way. They kept up their approaches and even felt some hope that she was softening towards them. Her voice wasn't as cold and her cut-off's not as sharp. But she still refused to let them get too close.

Everyday, Isabel and Kyle sat with her for lunch. Alex made sure he was there when Maria joined the band of the Whits. Every History lesson, they surrounded her. And while she ignored them, they all learnt to read her.

It was strange that in all the years that the seven knew Maria, none of them had spent much time looking at her. Her personality and enthusiasm for life often overshadowed her beauty, grace and even her true feelings. Michael was the only one that had any practise staring at her, although he was better at hiding it then Max.

Now they saw what she didn't say, what she hid, what her eyes shadowed and her body language revealed. They saw what the world saw, what they used to see and what she was, what she concealed. It was because of this observing, constant watching, some might even call stalking that they knew she was weakening. It gave them strength to keep up their efforts.

For Maria, the week grew increasingly difficult. Whatever they did, she loved these people and to just stop loving someone wasn't easy. With everyday she could feel herself being less unforgiving and she steeled herself against it. She buried herself in work, rehearsals and training.

In some ways this was a lot worst than that first week away from them. She felt numb to the pain then but now with all seven of them being there every second, it reminded her of their betrayal and she felt the hurt much more.

It wasn't just the guilt in their eyes that affected her, or the sorrow - what made it all so difficult was the anguish she saw reflected in them, mirroring her own, and the wistfulness in their expressions when they stared at her. As much as she was mad at them, it wasn't in her to see them suffer. But throughout this internal battle, it was the anger that was the strongest - not all the time, not even most of the time, but it was the one emotion she felt safest in expressing. Without it she would fall apart. Her teflon would break and her pretend would be over. So Maria held on to it for dear life. It was the only thing that kept her from bursting into tears or even worse, throwing herself into their arms.

They stared at her all the time. There were times when she was so used to, she barely noticed and there were other times when she wanted to go over to them and scream for them to stop. Sometimes, strangely enough it was even comforting and slightly healing - their watching her in some ways filling a hole inside her. Maria wasn't ready to forgive them, but she might have been ready to listen to their explanations, something they had never given her chance to do.

But now was not a good time. The game was tonight. And everything was ready. They were going to perform 2 numbers - one at half time and the other one when they won, a victory being almost guaranteed with Kyle playing. Maria forced her friends out her mind and focused on the routine. The part of her that had always suffered stage fright, the part that would be nervous of her performance wasn't there anymore. It was interesting, she had thought once before when she realised her stage fright was no longer an issue, that once you fight evil aliens and the FBI singing in front of hundreds of people isn't so scary anymore.

Her mother left this morning, rather reluctantly, unwilling to leave her daughter alone in her fragile state. An important business trip and weekend away with the Sheriff planned a month ago required her to leave. Because the sheriff was only joining her next day, Amy took the Jetta with her forcing Maria to get a lift.

The cheerleaders picked Maria up, bubbling with excitement. Maria smiled at them, and slipped easily into the role that almost second skin to her by now. It was one she used often, even before with those she trusted once - her happy face.

@@@@@@@@@

At the same time, in a house nearby seven teens were talking about their progress with Maria.

"Okay, Phase one has totally run its course. I say we move to phase two," Michael said decisively.

"I agree. We've done all we can with Phase one. It's time to move on," Isabel voiced her affirmation.

"Phase Two it is," Tess put in.

"Phase one is so over. I'm with you," Kyle added.

"Me, too," Liz and Max added.

"Guys - uh… what is Phase Two?" Alex asked a little dubiously.

There was silence as everyone thought about his question. No one could think of anything that would convince her. Minutes passed as they all considered options, throwing out ideas that were rare and few far between.

"OK, we need to come up with something now. I'm leaving for the game in a little while and whatever we are doing we are going to have to do tonight," Kyle announced.

"He's right. If we don't do something tonight, Maria will avoid us the whole weekend and rebuild all her walls. It will make whatever progress we made totally ineffective," Michael said thoughtfully.

"I have an idea," Tess said, "But its… a little out there."

"Well - don't keep us in suspense, Tess. Spill," Isabel ordered.

And Tess told them. They stared at her in disbelief.

"You want us to do what?" Max yelled. Max never yelled.

"No way," Kyle said.

"It's a little corny," Liz added.

"It might just work," came from Isabel.

"It has possibilities," Alex put in.

They all turned to Michael to decide the tie-break. He looked torn and highly uncomfortable. Making up his mind he said, "She loved that movie. Made me watch it with her three times. It could work."

The decision made, they began to plan. The time chosen was straight after the game was over while everyone was still in the gym. They figured the more public and humiliating the more chance it had to work.

Kyle left for the game. Alex left to sort out the last minute details and the girls and Max went to get ready for the game, and Phase two.

Part Twelve

The cheerleaders and Maria pulled up into the parking lot. There was 20 minutes to game time. The team pulled in behind them. Kyle stared at Maria, as they walked in and this time she didn't avoid his gaze. She nodded once, her face unsmiling and he grinned happily at her concession, before she disappeared into the girl's locker room to change into a catsuit, the same colours as the team and cheerleaders uniforms. Maria and the cheerleaders had debated the use of a uniform but finally decided against it, wanting her to stand out during the routine.

She wasn't going on till half time so she changed with the others, and then put on a long leather jacket, covering up the catsuit almost completely and left to sit in the court. Outside the stands were already full and with 5 minutes to go, she took her seat.

Maria felt eyes on her, and unsurprised she caught sight of ex-friends sitting in the front row, diagonally opposite her. She ignored them and concentrated on cheering the game. It was a close game but it was obvious that West Roswell would win, Kyle being in top form.

Five minutes before half time, Maria rose and curious eyes watched her walk to the edge of the room into the doorway that led to the locker room. She didn't re-emerge until the bell went and the team left. Three seconds later, the speakers went on and the music started.

And it began. With the cheerleaders, surrounding her, Maria walked in, a microphone in her hand. The crowd loved her. She led the cheerleaders in a quick, energetic dance routine belting out the words in a non-stop fast paced performance worthy of an MTV appearance. The end of the song was equally dramatic with the chorus fading, the cheerleaders following her moved towards the door in one motion and Maria disappeared. There was silence and then the crowd stood, screaming.

The game began immediately after, and when a well deserved victory was achieved, the cheerleaders took centre court again. To the beat of the music, they started the second routine. From behind the gym doors, Maria's clear voice was heard. The school, already high after the victory yelled as she walked out, holding the mike.

The song began slow and soft, but as Maria reached the front, the tempo picked up and the cheerleaders and her began to move in unison. Their second song ended amidst cheers.

"Maria Deluca," the head cheerleader announced taking the mike, and Maria stood there slightly out of breathe.

She had given everything into her performance, all her anger, hurt and insecurity - all poured into the routine and forgotten for those few minutes that she was centre stage. Her life didn't exist at that moment, just the song and the energy, the dance. But now as she listened to the cheers, her eyes as always moved to her friends and in the loud cheering room, from across the room her eyes met Michael's and suddenly everything else faded away and grew silent. There was nothing besides her and Michael - their eyes locked.

It took one of the cheerleaders tapping her lightly on the arm for her to release his gaze. She smiled her thanks to the crowd, shyly now that there was no music to distract, and stood there with other cheerleaders and the team as the school celebrated the victory.

"We have a surprise for you, Maria," Cindy said into the mike and the crowd silenced and waited for her to continue. "There are some people here who would like to say something to you." Whispers broke out as everyone guessed what the surprise was.

Just then, music began to play - the sounds of a guitar, a live guitar. Everyone shut up and straightened to see if Maria was going to perform again. She wasn't. From the back, three guys walked in all carrying the musical instruments they were playing. Maria turned to look with the rest of school and recognised the members of the Whits.

She glanced back to where Alex, and the rest were sitting during the game but they weren't there anymore. Then she looked to the side, searching for them - sure that they weren't not just going to leave. All day she had this feeling that they were planning something. It was the collective gasp from the school that had her turning her attention behind her. She turned around and her mouth fell open in shock.

Michael, stood there a microphone in his hand - the same one she had just given up. He opened his mouth and to Maria's complete and utter amazement began to sing, his eyes firmly attached to hers.

I know I was wrong
for treating you the way I did (the way I did)
I have so much on my mind
I didn't know where you fit in (where you fit in)
and if I could do it all over again (again)
I'll never treat you that way
(I'll never treat you that way again)
I apologise for the pain that I caused
and I just wanna say (I just wanna say)

His voice trailed of, as she stared in shock. The rest of the school stood spellbound. His voice wasn't half bad. Before she had time to react, Max took the microphone from Michael and picked up where Michael left off. Maria tore her gaze away from her ex-boyfriend to stare at one of her former best friends. Max's expression asked, no begged for forgiveness.

I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did (I didn't mean it baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did

With Liz, Isabel and Tess singing in the background, Alex and Kyle sang the next verse

When I close my eyes
I think of how it used to be (used to be)
that's when I realised
just how much you mean to me (you mean to me)
a second chance is all that I need (I need)
to change what's wrong and make it right
(to change what's wrong and make it right)
a fool I was to let you slip away (away)
when I know I need you in my life (need you in my life)

and Liz took the chorus alone. Maria's eyes swung from one to the next as the song went on. They looked nervous, slightly hopeful and very apologetic as the words came out.

I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did
(I didn't mean to hurt you baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did

Michael began to sing again, with Kyle doing the background.

And I know everytime (everytime)
everytime I treated you unkind (so unkind)
you still gave your best to me (to me)
I'll do anything to get you back in to my life
I need to hold you again (hold you)
kiss you again (kiss you)
make love to you (love you)
and I'll do it again (to you)
listen to me (listen to me)
I'm down on my knees (down on my knees)
can we start over again (can we start over)

They all finished singing the chorus together.

I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did
(I didn't mean to hurt you baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did
you got believe me when I say that
I'm sorry (so sorry)
so sorry
for treating you (for treating you the way I did)
I'll never hurt you again
I'm sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you ( for leaving you the way I did)
I'm sorry baby

She wasn't the only one following the group with her eyes. The school did too, overcome with curiosity as to what they did that required her forgiveness - what was so bad that a notorious loner, and a group, despite their popularity generally avoided the public eye as much as possible. They also watched Maria, waiting for her reaction.

Maria didn't know what to do. She was so mad at them, yet at the same time she couldn't help feeling slightly flattered and forgiving that all of them were willing to do this for her. Michael held out his hand, hopefully and she reached out to meet it, without even realising it. Just as their fingertips touched, the sparks that she always felt shocked her into reality and she remembered - she snatched her hands away, and swallowed her own disappointment. She didn't look at Michael's eyes, knowing if she saw them one more time she would just give in and run into his arms.

As she avoided his eyes her glance met Liz's and her part of her heart broke all over when she saw the pain and hope in Liz's eyes. She couldn't deal with this now - she wasn't ready. Maria began to back away slightly. Seeing this, the group knew they were losing her, they began to move closer to her.

It was at that moment, in the absolute silence of the gym while all watched and waited for the reaction from Maria that the door opened. The sound was loud and with it, heads whipped around to see who dared disturb the entertainment. A guy walked in.

End part 12

Part Thirteen

Marc strolled in and looked around curiously. There was a strange atmosphere in the room. He stopped at the edge of the court, and decided to ignore the very hostile looks he was getting from the crowd, "Maria, ready to go," he said.

For Maria his entrance was the equivalent of being saved by the bell. She felt relief. Her decision didn't have to be made now. Her smile reflected all this when she looked at Marc.

It wasn't what Michael and the rest saw - a smile of relief. Instead they saw someone new, someone in her life they didn't know. Someone that was taking her away from them.

"I'll get my stuff," Maria said and walked to the edge to pick up a bag lying unobtrusively there. It contained her change of clothes and the evening wear for tonight's singing. With the Jetta out of town with her mother for the weekend, Maria was dependant on others for lifts. It was why Marc was picking her up.

Marc met her halfway and took her bag from her.

"Aren't you going to introduce us, Ria?" Shelley, one of the cheerleaders asked. They were all still on the court, watching the proceedings with avid interest, like the rest of the school.

"Yes, Ria. Please introduce us," Michael said, his tone slightly challenging. That was all it took for two people in a somewhat on/off highly volatile relationship.

Maria twirled around, and in a really sweet voice introduced Marc.

"Everyone. This is Marc. Marc - everyone."

And Marc who was not entirely sure what was going on complied with her cue.

"Hello," he said and seeing that Michael was the most dominant male in the room held out his hand to greet him. Not breaking eye contact, or the silent argument he had going with Maria, Michael took it and they exchanged firm handshakes, a battle for territory.

"Hi, Marc," the rest of the school said in unison, as they released their hands. And Marc gave them a cautious smile, resisting the urge to laugh at the display by Maria's friends or the urge to check to see if any of his fingers were broken. Pride. It was important.

"We're going now. We're already late," Maria said and the two turned and walked away.

Everyone listened as Marc, almost at the exit said to her, "I've only been at college a couple of years, Ria but I don't recall high school being quite like that."

"My life is anything but normal," she replied to which he answered, "That's because you, Maria are anything but ordinary…"

It was the last thing they heard before the door shut behind them. Inside, Michael turned to face the others.

"Okay, who the hell was that?" he demanded and let his glance pass over the room, before pausing on the cheerleaders.

"Don't look at us. We don't know anything." Pam said.

"But we'd like to. He was hot," Shelley added.

"I wonder if has a brother," Cindy mused aloud.

Michael gave a sigh of exasperation and cut off the cheerleaders of before they began a rundown on all of Marc's attributes, something he so didn't need to hear right now. And based on previous experience with these girls when Isabel hung around them, he knew it was the next topic of conversation.

One of the girls, Shelley, Muffy, or some sort of food name looked at him and said, "I hope you don't do anything stupid, like follow her." Okay so maybe all of them weren't airheads.

It was like a light went of in their heads.

"Race you to the car," Max said and he Michael took of at a run, the others close on their heels with Kyle still in his uniform.

The door swung shut to the disappointment of the students of West Roswell High, the ending of an highly entertaining show down lost to them. The noise level in the room rose immediately as the discussion began. Someone in the room began a betting pool which had people shouting out odds, amounts and guesses to what would occur. It was some time before the victory celebration began, and even longer before the talk was to die down.

End Part 13

Part Fourteen

Outside 7 teens ran in time to see Maria climbing into a red car. They hopped into the jeep and Kyle's mustang, pulling out the driveway and heading after the headlights of Mark's car. They were not happy when they pulled up at the restaurant 'Enterprise' to see his car sitting outside.

"Why is he bringing her here," Michael asked.

"We have another problem," Liz interrupted, "This place has a dress code. And its expensive."

"Easily fixed. Amazing - a problem I can solve. How unique," Michael mused, sarcasm evident in his tone. With one wave of his hand, his rather grungy look transformed into a suit.

The others stared in surprise.

"I didn't know you could do that," Tess said.

"Nacedo taught me. And Maria made me practise," he replied.

"Maybe then you'd care to explain that pathetic dress sense you exhibit, if you can do that," Isabel asked.

"What's wrong with the way I dress?" Michael glared at her.

"No time for this," Alex interrupted what was sure to be a big argument.

"Do me next," Kyle said. And Michael did.

He changed all of them, giving the girls beautiful evening dresses. Their expressions grew more shocked.

"What? I like art."

"Yeah, but…" Isabel started.

"Okay, fine. I use to practise on Maria. And she wouldn't let me do bikinis. She likes evening gowns, so…" he trailed off.

The guys nodded in understanding and the girls smiled.

"Okay, you distract the Maitre-D and I'll change the reservation book, Iz," Max said.

"And if that doesn't work, Tess you mind warp him, okay," Michael added. With those last words the 7 walked in.

It wasn't exactly what they expected. Understandably - they did live in Roswell and the restaurant did have a somewhat alien name to it. Still, with the exception of Isabel who had been there before, they were all rather surprised at how upscale the restaurant was.

The got in easily. A little alien magic and a few smiles can work wonders. They even managed to get seats at the back of the restaurant, in the shadows. Then again most of the restaurant was shadowed, mainly candlelit with a few lamps at intervals giving it a romantic atmosphere. All of them worked hard at remaining inconspicuous and at the same time searched the dim room, for Maria, as they walked to their seats. They didn't see her.

"What if she isn't here? What if we are in the wrong place?" Liz said worriedly.

"I don't remember Maria ever mentioning this place before or coming here." Alex added.

"Well obviously not," Isabel put in, "Why would she come here? She was dating Michael."

"Hey. I might have brought her here. Maybe. Someday…" Michael trailed of at their incredulous looks, "Besides, Maria doesn't care about stuff like that," he added a little louder.

"True. At least she didn't before," Kyle said.

"Where is she? This is the only place open here. She must be here somewhere."

At that moment Maria was in the back. She had just changed into her favourite black evening gown and was saying hello to the Galinas before starting her set. Mama Galina - everyone called her that - took one look at her and enveloped her in a hug. She issued the boys out the kitchen and sat down with Maria, holding out a bowl of today's dessert. Comfort food was Mama Galina's field of expertise after all. The comforting presence and dessert work and Maria felt ready to face the world again. After another hug from Mama Galina, and one from Papa Galina who was standing outside the kitchen doors waiting for permission to come back in, and Maria was ready to face the world again, or at least sing for them.

She walked out. Marc was already sitting down, playing a light tune on the piano and took her place next to the piano, in front of the microphone. It was a totally old fashioned set-up, one designed to be and look like a the setting for a lounge singer from the 1950's. Even the songs were soft, melodious, and written years ago with the occasional modern slow love tune.

"I say we grab her and run," Michael said, "As soon as we see her." Kyle, Alex and Max nodded in agreement while the girls stared at them incredulously.

"That's your plan. Are you nuts? This is the Enterprise," Isabel yelled at Michael in a loud whisper.

"She's already mad us. At this rate she'll never forgive us," Liz said.

"You follow our lead. Don't do anything until we tell you," Tess said in a voice that booked no argument and the other girls nodded this time, giving the guys certain you-do-as-I-say-or-I'll-kill-you looks they couldn't possibly misinterpret. Kyle and Alex gulped and in a calming gesture took their respective girlfriends hands just before they reached the table. And in move design to placate but almost natural for Max and Alex, the guys held out the girls seats, before they sat.

The seven still occupied in searching the restaurant didn't notice Maria as she walked out, but her voice caught their attention immediately. Their attention and the rest of the diners, whose conversation ceased as they turned to look. In the short time that Maria had been working at the Enterprise her singing abilities had grown, and with it her reputation and that of the restaurant. People started coming to hear her sing. It was more than her voice - it was the emotion one could hear in her songs. Emotions that told the listener that whatever she sang about she experienced. And to her it was her way of being sad without releasing her mask.

This was totally different from the cheerleading performance - that was fast, quick, and energetic. This was slow, sad and in melodic way lulling. When she sang the atmosphere in the room changed and it was like being transported back in time - to another world, a different era.

The waiter arrived to take their order but they were too involved in staring at her to give it. He left and returned, interrupting their rapt attendance to the lightly lit stage in the front. Michael didn't even blink despite their attempts to talk to him so Max ordered for him. He appeared to have forgotten all about his plan, or even that the world around him existed.

The food arrived and they ate almost absently and their plates were taken away with the quick service one could expect from such a restaurant. Still they didn't move.

The time passed. The waiter stopped coming to ask if they wanted anything and ignored them for the most part. And Maria sang. Today was difficult. She had a lot to sing about, a lot to decide and as always placed herself totally into the music. In the back of neck, she felt a tingling feeling like someone was watching her, but she ignored it. It wasn't an uncomfortable feeling - it was a familiar one, one that was almost a part of her by now.

It was time for her last song. It was late and the restaurant was about to close. As the words died away, she heard light applause. The atmosphere in the Enterprise was a soft one and so was the applause, so different from the screaming acceptance she had received for her earlier performance but at the same time no less in its obvious approvement.

She disappeared into the back and immediately Michael stood up, followed by the rest of the guys. Max, Alex and Kyle looked at the girls requesting permission and they nodded, before also moving out their seats. The 7 of them walked into the back after Maria. They found her standing next to Marc hugging him goodbye and without a thought Max and Kyle grabbed Michael's arms on either side, preventing him from moving.

It was the strangest thing. Isabel, for one, could have sworn she heard Michael release a low growl. It did however get Maria's attention, and the other rather amused people also in the room - the Galinas. Marc on the other hand wasn't amused - he barely concealed his fear. Michael was by this point glaring rather ferociously at Maria and Marc.

"What exactly is going on?" Michael asked, his voice dangerously calm. Marc felt a shiver of fear. There was no mistaking the threat and the territory claiming. He opened his mouth to reassure the guy, whose name he still wasn't aware of but before he could say anything, Maria cut in.

"That is none of your business, Michael. You forfeited all rights - all of you did - to know what is going on in my life," Maria reacted to Michael's anger.

'So that's his name,' Marc thought to himself, as he inconspicuously tried to move away from standing too close to Maria.

"At least listen to us. Maria, let us explain. Let us apologise," Michael said pleadingly, changing tactics.

Now that he was a safe enough distance away, Marc felt brave enough to talk, "She doesn't want to talk to you."

"You stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you." Michael resumed glaring at Marc

"Leave Marc alone," Maria retorted.

"Marc can take care of himself," Kyle put in.

"Come on, Maria. We are going to talk. Now," Michael grabbed Maria's arm and pulled her away.

"Hey," Marc yelled.

" I don't want to talk to you," Maria said at the same time

"Well, that's just to bad. ''Cos you are going to."

"Damn. I just knew he was going to go all Neatherthal on her," Isabel said aside to Tess.

"I'm wont come with you," Maria voice went up a few decibels.

Michael stopped suddenly and turned to face her, "You sang beautifully," he said, changing the subject completely again.

Maria was totally disarmed. She smiled a small smile at him, "Really?"

"Really." He began walking again and Maria remembered she wasn't going with him again.

"Let go of me, Michael."

"No way, Maria. You told me once that whenever I did something stupid or ran, I could always come back because you were not going anywhere. Were you lying?"

"Oh - I think you went beyond stupid this time, Michael. Stupid was when you dumped me the first time. The only person that's stupid here is me for letting you always come back."

"Were you lying?"

"You have a nerve. You're throwing my words back at me. And I am still not coming with you.

"I am not giving you a choice," Michael said to her and in a move that shocked all of them picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Maria began to yell loudly.

Marc gave an uneasy glance to Michael before moving to rescue his friend. Immediately Max, Alex and Kyle stepped in front of him and assumed identical postures, legs shoulder width and arms folded. Marc wasn't scared of them but the same wasn't true for the girls. Liz, Isabel and Tess joined the guys. They may not have approved of the plan but no one could argue with its effectiveness. And since it was too late to do things a little more diplomatically, they decided to give their full support. Together they took a step forward, forcing Marc to move backwards, rather awkwardly. He gave a furious Maria an apologetic look and a shrug, causing her to scream louder.

"That's it, Michael Guerin. You are dead man. I am going to make sure you die a slow and painful death. Slow, you hear me, Michael."

"The whole bloody town heard you, Maria. I got it. Slow and painful. You're still coming with me."

"Aaaah. I hate you. Do you know that." To emphasis her point she gave his shirt a hard yank.

"That's okay, princess. I hate you too."

"Don't call me princess."

"Aren't they cute," Liz said aside to Alex.

"I heard that." Maria shouted from her perch from Michael's shoulders.

"I don't know how, with the amount of noise you are making," Michael said dryly, trying to keep a firm hold on Maria who was doing her best to squirm around as much as possible.

"Mama Galina, make him put me down. Now," Maria suddenly remembered the cooks in the room. She sent another disgusted look via Marc's way.

The Galinas were watching unobtrusively from the corner of the room. They looked liked they were barely holding their laughter in, or else they were about to cry.

"Baby, did I ever tell you how Papa Galina and I got married?"

Maria looked confused but would never be rude to these people. Neither would Michael. He stopped so they could hear the story.

"Yes, you said that you were supposed to marry someone else - an arranged marriage and you eloped with him instead," she replied to the question.

"I may have left out a few details. It wasn't quite as simple as that."

"It wasn't?" Maria's tone asked the question, politely but everyone wondered at the same time the relevance to the current situation.

"Non, I loved my Estafano but I loved my family too, and I would never go against their wishes. I was in the carriage to the wedding when out of nowhere my Estafano arrived. He threw me over his shoulder and…"

"You eloped. How romantic," Liz said dreamily.

"Excuse me. I am only seventeen years old. I am not marrying anyone," Maria said. She tapped Michael on the shoulder, "You tell them, Michael."

"Oh now - its okay for us to agree, huh. Have you ever thought that maybe someday I may want to marry you?"

Maria's mouth dropped open. So did the jaws of the other 8 people in the room.

Maria shook her head, as if to clear it. Maybe she heard wrong. Michael dispelled that notion.

"You heard me. Not now, of course but someday."

Then she snapped out of it. "I am not even talking to you. How exactly are you planning on doing this wedding. Or was another abduction in order," she said sarcastically, "Of course, we still have finish this one."

"You are so right. We do have to complete this abduction. Guess abductions are just part of our relationship." With those words Michael began to walk again.

Maria looked slightly resignedly at the Galinas, "Guess you are not going to help me."

"No. Sorry, honey. But this is for your own good. You need to talk to your friends," Mama Galina said firmly and Papa Galina always a man of few words nodded in support.

"Thanks a lot, traitor," Maria shouted to Marc on the way out the empty restaurant.

End Part Fourteen.

Part Fifteen

They were at Maria's house - all 8 of them. It was chosen for the lack of any adult supervision, and because it had more space than Kyle's. That and the fact, they thought it might calm her down to be in her own house. It didn't really work so the next brilliant plan, 7 desperate teens came up with was to lock her up in her room until she was ready to talk to them - then again it could have been a stalling technique. Now that they had finally got an audience with her they were not exactly sure how to go about asking for forgiveness for something this monumental.

The drive there hadn't been a picnic either. Michael sat in the backseat of the jeep, with her on his lap. To prevent any escape, he wrapped his arms around her firmly. She didn't make it easy, squirming around a lot to get out of his iron grip. Her escape attempts were unsuccessful but it did leave Michael in a rather uncomfortable position.

Now the 7 sat downstairs in the Deluca sitting room, deciding what their next move was to be. They were prepared for a long night. Already, Liz, Isabel, Max, and Alex had phoned their parents to explain their absences with sleepovers. Maria was in her room, sulking. After yelling for a while, she finally realised that that manner of protest was rather pointless and only resulted in a sore throat for her. After that she went totally silent, much to their worry. Isabel had already gone up to check if she was still in her room, despite the fact that there was no way out considering Tess and Max had made sure that all exit routes were totally blocked (alien powers did come in handy.)

Michael had taken up a meal for her, home cooked, her favourite snacks but Maria locked herself in the bathroom when she felt him coming up. It was just a objection to her incarceration. She was well aware that he could easily open the door. He waited for a few minutes before insisting she open the door. Determined not to talk, Maria didn't answer him and even had to stuff her had in her mouth to prevent the laughter erupting when in a really serious voice, Michael threatened her with his "alien fingers." Michael opened the door, dragged her out the bathroom and watched as she ate her first bite, before leaving her alone again. Maria thought about refusing to eat but she was starving having not eaten any thing substantial all day. And it was her favourite foods.

Meanwhile, in the living room, a debate was raging as to the next course of action.

"I think we should all go in together and explain," Max said.

"It might be better if we go in one by one, so we can talk to her on our own," Liz said.

They threw suggestions back and forth until it was finally decided that Alex, Kyle, Tess and Isabel would go in first to explain and then Liz , Max and Michael could talk to her on their own. Of course, after their final decision they changed their minds again. Eventually, Michael stood up and walked up to her room. The others followed. Discussions were proving useless, maybe just talking would work.

Unlocking the door, they all trooped into her room. All of them had been there at one time or another during their lives so its contents were familiar, as was the slight figure that lay on the bed. She had changed into a pair of shorts and tiny tank top and lay on the bed, her feet curled up under her. Her eyes were shut and her expression, peaceful and innocent. Different to the mask she wore during the day.

Michael walked to the bed and carefully lifting her, he waved his one hand over the bed causing the covers above the bed to rise. He laid her back down on the bed and opposite him Liz lifted the covers back up and tucked them tightly around her friend. The covers rose slightly and fell with each small breathe Maria took, but she didn't stir, too exhausted by a long, emotionally tiring day to even feel being moved.

Michael lifted one hand to lightly touch her face, a small smile playing on his face before he turned and left the room along with the other silent observers. They shut the door quietly and went back downstairs.

"Tomorrow. We'll talk to her tomorrow," Alex said softly. And the others nodded.

It took them a while to get organised. They all decided to sleep there, as to talk to their friend first thing in the morning. The girls were going to sleep in Amy's room while the guys slept in the living room. Max and Alex took the couches and Kyle and Michael used Maria's sleeping bags. Within minutes, all of them were out, sleep coming easier on this night then it had since this whole mess started. Now that they had her so close, their hope was stronger and her presence, in a way had the same calming effect it had always unknowingly given.

End Part 15

To Index

To Home

To Next Part