Rollercoaster

by

Domino

Part Sixteen

Alex opened his eyes reluctantly the next morning. The sun was shining brightly through the curtains that none of them had thought to close last night. Groaning softly, he sat up and lifted his hand to massage his aching neck. Sleeping on the couch was not good for anyone that had his tall lanky frame. Glancing around he took in his other sleeping companions. Max was snoring softly on the couch across and Kyle was sprawled half in and half out his sleeping bag. Alex turned his head to see where Michael was, and moaned at the protest his neck made at the movement.

Michael was nowhere in sight. He must already be up. Alex swung his legs over the side of the couch and padded over the carpeted floors to the stairs. A few minutes later he was back in the kitchen, deciding whether or not to start breakfast or go out and fetch some clothes. Stalling, Alex went back upstairs to see if anyone else was awake. Walking quietly he softly opened the door to the girls room and stuck his head round it. All three were fast asleep. Backing out, he left before he disturbed them and went over to Maria's room. He didn't open the door immediately like before and instead paused. Not for the first time guilt overtook him when he thought about facing her - his best friend. What happened last night was necessary. Necessary to get her back.

Strengthening his resolve his hand tightened around the doorknob and he slowly turned it. The door slipped open quietly. Maria lay on her stomach, her face hidden in the pillows facing the window, her hand dangling over the edge of the bed. For a few seconds Alex just stared at her, memories of sleepovers and childhood dreams surfacing. He would do whatever it took to get her to forgive him, forgiving himself on the other hand… he wasn't so sure about that.

As Alex turned to leave the room, he caught sight of something behind the bed. Walking towards it, he wasn't surprised to see Michael covered in his sleeping bag, hidden by the bed. He lay on the floor, asleep with one hand outstretched lightly holding Maria's dangling fingers. A slight smile graced Alex's face for a second, before disappearing as fast as it had appeared. There was little to smile about these days. Alex turned around left.

Back in the kitchen, a pair of arms encircled his waist as a now awake Isabel greeted her boyfriend and a second smile touched his features. Maybe not so little to smile about.

"Morning, honey. Sleep well?" she practically purred.

"Uh-huh. You?" he turned in her arms.

"Oh, yes. Today is going to be a good day. I just know it," Isabel replied, optimism spilling forth.

Despite himself, Alex found himself believing, "I hope so. Do you think she'll forgive us?"

The smile on Isabel's face wavered for a second before returning full force, "Yes, she will. She has to," she replied, her tone almost desperate.

By mutual agreement, an unspoken one, Alex and Isabel changed the subject. Not wasting any more time they decided to first get some necessities. Isabel walked into the living room and climbing over a sprawled out Kyle managed to access Max's jeans lying over the sofa, to recover the keys. Alex quickly scribbled the others a note and the two left to make a few stops.

When they arrived back, Michael was awake and busy in the kitchen. He had already started breakfast. A grunted good morning was all they got from him. He didn't mention last night's sleeping arrangements and neither did Alex. He knew, from Isabel that it had been a while since Michael had got any sleep at all - not since the whole mess had started, and what happened after, with Courtney had only made it worse - and because of that, and the fact that Michael wasn't the kind of guy you brought this up with Alex held his silence. Working companionably the two guys made pancakes while Isabel showered. Alex took his turn next and then Michael.

By then, almost everyone was awake and waiting. Maria was still asleep and no one wanted to disturb her. The guys were in the kitchen, debating what to do when they heard soft footsteps padding down the stairs. Immediately they all shut up and waited. Obviously still half asleep, Maria walked to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. Rubbing her eyes with one hand she walked to the cupboards. And that's when all hell broke loose.

A slight noise from one of the guys had her head turning sharply and at the same time she threw the bottle at the source of the noise. Her aim was right on target and the bottle went straight for Max's head - reaching out his hand, Kyle caught the bottle just narrowly missing hitting Michael who was also attempting to catch it. Her feet poised to run, Maria took in the sight of the four guys standing there and she paused, a look of shock crossing her face.

"Damn. It wasn't a dream. I should have known it… but you singing, I mean what was I suppose to think?" she said, softly almost to herself, "Wait a second," and her voice rose and she stalked over to them, "You threw me over your shoulder. What the hell were you thinking, huh?" poking her finger in Michael's chest to punctuate each word.

"Want some breakfast, honey? I made your favourites," Michael said ignoring the anger in her voice. She stared at him in shock, and she wasn't the only one. What was he doing?

Suddenly Maria seemed to visibly slump, all the fight going out of her. It was difficult when they all wore the same pleading expressions she saw them wear when they sang to her last night - hard to resist those faces, "You are not leaving, are you?" It was a statement not a question. "Fine, blueberry pancakes?" she asked, moving away from them and taking the bottle of water from Kyle's hands.

"Yeah."

"I'm not your honey, Michael. I don't think I ever was," she added, "I'm going to change," and with that parting shot she left before anyone else could say anything.

Alex gave them all a big smile, "She's having breakfast with us. Isabel," he yelled.

The girls came running into the kitchen.

"Shhh. She's still sleeping," Isabel said admonishing Alex.

"What? What happened?" Tess asked the question Isabel didn't.

Kyle went up to her and hugged her, "She's having breakfast with us."

They all went into the dining room and sat down where the girls had set the table. Maria wasn't long. She came in quietly and sat down. A part of her knew that she couldn't avoid this any longer. And she had to admire the genius in kidnapping her and taking her to her own house. Even she did escape, where was she supposed to go. And the 7 of them were obviously not leaving anytime soon. At least, they had let her sleep last night… it was strange but she slept better last night than she had in a long time. Not since this whole mess started. Today she felt a little fresher, more up to dealing with this.

Breakfast was over. It was time to talk.

End part 16

Part Seventeen

They all moved to the living room and spread out over the seats. Maria sat by herself on the one-seater, holding herself separate from the rest of them, and Michael leaned against the wall his arms crossed.

No one said anything. They didn't know how to begin.

"Well, since you obviously don't have anything to say, I assume it's alright for me to leave - or am I under house arrest?" Maria announced, "I do have plans, you know." She stood up.

"Maria, please. Just listen to us," Liz said softly, pleadingly.

"Why? Why should I? You didn't listen to me. Tell me why I should listen to you."

"We were idiots. We are idiots. Maria, please. We need to fix this," Kyle said.

"Fine. Talk, then."

In a halting voice Alex started, Kyle, Isabel, Tess, Max, and Liz adding in between. They told her the whole story, what Courtney had done, and why.

Maria didn't say a word, and kept her face carefully blank while she listened. About how they found out; about Alex, Tess, Kyle and Isabel worrying about why she didn't show up to work, their plan to ask her and the conversation they overheard accidentally. She tried to hide the hurt that Liz, Michael and Max didn't care enough to even wonder about what she was doing, but not well enough and they saw it - it was another stab to the heart, another bit of guilt.

"God, Maria we are so sorry. You have no idea. I know its not easy to do but will you at least consider forgiving us," Tess pleaded at the end.

"How come it was so easy for you to believe this? Someone tell me why. I'm your best friend - how could you think that I would do that?" Maria yelled at them. It was the first time they had spoken about it and it felt good to scream. She stared them all in the eyes, starting with Michael and ending with Liz. And everyone else faded a little and this became between two friends, best friends whose friendship had been destroyed by a betrayal.

"You want to know why. Why - I'll tell you. I was jealous alright." Liz yelled back, the emotional upheaval of everything finally giving out in this confrontation that was days too late.

"Jealous of me. What the hell for."

"Isn't it obvious?" and both of their voices softened to a normal conversation that was almost normal in its tones.

"No. It isn't. I don't get it. You believed Max with the Tess thing and you believed Max with this. Why would you think I would do it." The hurt was evident in Maria's voice, all masks dropped.

Liz sighed, "Max and I were not on great terms, you know that. We were back together and I explained the Kyle thing but we…we didn't talk like before."

"You were together. What does this have to do with me?"

"Everything. All that time I was away, and when I came back, everywhere I saw Max, I saw you."

"We were friends. I was helping him get you back - remember you, the girl who he had been in love with since 3rd grade., my former best friend."

Liz cringed, "Well. I couldn't help it, okay. I was jealous. It was worse then with Tess. Tess never stood a chance of getting him but you… you could have had him if you snapped your fingers." Maria wasn't the only one that was shocked. Max had a complete look of confusion. In fact the only ones that didn't look confused were Michael, Tess and Isabel.

Maria gave a disbelieving look. "Please. Like that was ever going to happen. Max didn't even see other girls and I loved Michael." Michael winced at her use of the past tense.

"You don't see it - your power." To Maria's shock, she saw Isabel and Tess nodding in agreement.

"What does that mean. My power?" This time Maria addressed the question to all the girls.

"If we hadn't gotten back together, Max would have come after you. I could see it in his eyes. Even after we got back together he never came to me to talk. Everytime he had a problem, he ran to you. How the hell do you think that made me feel."

"I think that you are an idiot. He came to me because I was your best friend and his problems, his world revolved around you. And Max would never come after me. He wouldn't do that to Michael. Then again what do I know. You all did it to me." And again the bitterness shone through.

"I'm sorry okay. I was just so mad and so jealous I let everything blind me. The thing is I knew you didn't see him like that. I just would remember all the things you used to say about Max being the perfect boyfriend and I just … went a little nuts."

"Oh, excuse me. Of course. I should have known that meant I had designs on your boyfriend because I'm such backstabbing…" sarcasm was evident.

"Stop alright. I know I was a complete idiot. I just couldn't help the way I felt." Liz cut her off.

"You believed Max. You wouldn't even stop and ask me what really happened."

"I couldn't stop and ask you. I was so furious with you. You're the person I trust most in the world and to think that you did that … I just couldn't okay," Liz replied.

"Don't you mean trusted most in the world. And after everything I put up from you."

"What do you mean?"

"For years I was your best friend. And you know what, Liz you are one of the most selfish people I know. Your life revolves around you and only you. How much do you even know about me - huh? Do you know when Michael and I had our first kiss, that I write songs, that…" she stopped and Liz stared at her, horrified, "You don't know any of that because far as you were concerned all I ever was, was your sidekick. You always thought your life was more important than mine."

"That is not true. I… I just always needed you more than you needed me. Its why I couldn't ever keep a secret from you. You were always the strong one - teflon, remember. I know I'm selfish sometimes but Maria, we're best friends. I can't do this without you. Don't you think I know that you keep things from me. I know you don't tell me when it hurts, when you cry," Liz looked at Maria, tears falling from her eyes, "I just never knew how to fix things. Before , I used to call Grandma Claudia and ask her. She used to say, if Maria needs you Lizzie she'll tell you. Let her work it out by herself. And so I did. I guess… I just got so used to letting you do that I stopped being a good friend. I'm so sorry, Ria. I never meant you to feel like that. I'm sorry I didn't come and ask you, that I believed that skin, that I made everyone believe me. I'm so sorry." Liz was crying so hard now she stopped speaking. Max wrapped his arms around her and held her.

Maria wanted to go to her, to make her stop crying but a part of her was still so furious. It hurt so much. Everything. Liz crying, everyone cornering her, what they did. It all just hurt. She turned around to hide the tears in her own eyes, and faced the window shutting them tightly to block the tears. She didn't see her reflection staring at them. She didn't see Michael take a step towards her, hold out his hand and take it back, unsure of what to do. Isabel's strong voice broke over the sounds of sobbing.

"We will fight for you Maria. I wont let Courtney destroy us that easily. Not after everything we fought for to get here. It doesn't mean anything without you."

And her anger not yet spent came back. Facing Isabel, now and blocking the rest of the room she started, her mask back on but her emotions real, "That's rich, Isabel. Really. If I learnt anything in the last few weeks is that I never meant anything to any of you. All I ever was to you was someone you put up with because of Michael. I was the girl Liz blabbed the secret too. The weird girl who was going to tell all to Valenti. The girl who saw monsters in her dreams. The threat, the freak - that's who I was. So don't tell me that I mean a lot to you."

"You want to know who you are. I'll tell you. You're the girl who didn't tell Valenti anything despite the fact I did my best to scare the hell out you. You're the girl that helped heal Michael even after the crappy way we treated you. The girl who took him in and helped him when he was scared. The girl that was determined to be my friend even after I pushed her away and threaten to kill her. The girl who stopped my brother from going into a total depression even while she was hurting just as bad. The girl who never gives up on people. The girl who…the girl who's my… best friend," she trailed off softly. Everyone was silent. Maria had a tear running down her face.

"I won't let you go, Maria. I'm not giving you up because I was so stupid. You're the strongest person I know, I need you to be my friend - I need to be yours. I want us to last, all of us. College. Marriage. Babies," she said tearfully. Then Isabel began to laugh - it had a slight hysterical edge to it, "How can I be a bridesmaid at your wedding if you're not talking to me - huh?"

"How many times do I got to tell you, huh? I am not getting married," Maria said but she smiled a small smile at Isabel. And walked the step towards her. It was all it took. Isabel ran the rest of the way and wrapped the smaller girl in her arms.

"I'm so sorry, Ria. I won't ever do anything like this again. Ever," she cried.

"You'd better not. I won't be as nice next time," Maria said crying as well. She leant back and looked at the taller girl, "Did you mean what you said?"

"Every word." Isabel said firmly.

"Okay."

"Okay what?"

"Okay. I'll let you be bridesmaid when I get married." And Isabel started to laugh.

"And I guess that's makes you maid of honour, Liz," Maria said softly, turning to face Liz.

"Really. Really, Maria," and suddenly Maria flew backwards as Liz came rushing at her. And for a few minutes, all they did was hug. Isabel wrapped her arms around them both as well.

"Guys, I really do need to breathe now," Maria said laughing lightly. The first real laugh she had had in ages. She looked up and the two girls backed of a little, Liz grabbing her hand tightly not willing to let go just yet.

Tess stood staring at the three girls, and buried the envy she felt when she saw them. The closeness she hadn't ever felt before until Maria accepted her in the group. But that was before. She didn't feel a tear fall from her face. She didn't see it hit the ground and splash lightly but others saw. Kyle saw and Maria saw.

"So Tess, wanna be a bridesmaid at my non-existent wedding," Maria said to her, the generous spirit she was known for, not allowing the obviously sorry girl suffer any more.

And Tess looked up at her, "You'll forgive me? After everything I did?" she said hopefully.

"Chica, you got a lot to learn about humanity but I figure you made a good start. Nice call on the singing there. I know it was your idea - you probably saw that movie as often as I did. I can't believe you talked them into it," Maria said gently to Tess. She always spoke gently to Tess, and treated her like fragile glass. She was one of the few that realised how easily hurt Tess was, how sensitive she was. They had a lot in common, along with an underlying steel that made them survivors.

"It wasn't hard, Maria," Tess said, another unnoticed tear falling. Tears was something she didn't quite recognise, having used so little of it, in her strange life, "They would do anything for you. Anything at all." She walked to Maria. Maria opened her arms and Tess lay her head on her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Ria. I will do anything to make it up to you - you were nice to me when you didn't have to be and I will never forget that. I'm sorry I let them make me believe otherwise. I just felt so betrayed, thinking you tore the group apart for something so stupid. The group was all I had," Tess said into her shoulder. Maria patted her on the back softly.

"We'll fix it now, Tess. Okay?"

"Okay." Tess replied.

Isabel watched her boyfriend smile at the reunion and then the smile leave his face, its appearance brief as all his smiles were since he lost Maria. She pulled Liz's arm and took Tess's hand in hers before leading the way out the room, "We'll get some drinks for all of us," she said and the girls left the boys to talk to her.

End Part 17

Part Eighteen

Maria sat down on her couch again, in the corner of the room. The guys exchanged a look, deciding who was to go first. Maria took the decision out of their hands.

"Tell me what happened with Courtney," she said quietly and watched as their expressions darkened at the mention of her name.

"I… I can show you," Max offered tentatively but Maria wasn't ready to let him connect with her yet. She shook her head no and buried the urge to change her mind when she saw his hurt but at the same time totally understanding expression - typical Max.

"I never wanted to hit a girl in my life but her I wanted to knock out," Kyle said angrily, "She's damn lucky she did what she did or else…"

"What did she do?" Maria cut in, wanting to know what they did, what happened.

"We all decided to confront her together. Michael wanted us to stay behind because she was a skin, but Liz, Kyle and me refused to. We wanted to make her pay for what she did," Alex started.

Max continued, "We all went to the Crashdown the day after we came to your house, and we pretended no one was talking for the shift while we kept an eye on Courtney."

"It was really difficult to keep the girls from scratching her eyes out," Michael put in, "There were times when I thought for sure I was going to have to grab Isabel, or Liz to keep them from giving us away."

"I practically had to sit on Tess. She's not the most patient person there is, you know," Kyle added.

"In a way, it's a good thing that the girls were there. They kept us from doing something stupid as well, particularly since we were so worried that they were going to do something," Alex said.

"Guys, you still haven't said what happened," Maria urged them on eager to find out what occurred.

"We're getting there," Max said patiently, "So anyway, we waited until it was closing time and we cornered her in the backroom. Things kind of spiralled from there."

"She knew immediately that we knew. Michael looked so mad I thought for sure he was going to blast her. I would have totally understood if he did, but she never gave us a chance," Kyle said, a little tactlessly.

"She started to laugh - this horrible laugh - and then she said that it was fun, watching all of us go down like that. That if she didn't get me, that at least she made sure that I never would get you back. That none of us would," Michael said, his eyes darkening in anger as he remembered the conversation and the smug voice Courtney revealed all of this.

"We told her that she would pay for it all and Tess said that you were smarter than any bottle-blonde who couldn't get a guy if she paid for one and that we would beat her at the game she was playing," Kyle said.

"That's when it got really interesting. Courtney went a little nuts. She started to insult you. I grabbed Michael's one arm and Max took the other one to stop him from getting to her. Man, that girl was mean. We didn't catch Liz, though. She slapped her. Really hard too. Courtney's face flew back - I hate to say it but I really enjoyed that," Alex put in, a tad admiring about Liz. And Maria smiled. At least someone had got to hit that witch.

"She did what all of us wanted to," Max said, surprising everyone.

"Then, Courtney looked at all of us really smugly and she said that it was already too late. And it didn't matter what we did. It was too late for us, because there was no way you would even talk to us - in a way we knew she was right, but we didn't let her know it," Kyle said.

"And it was too late for her," Michael continued when Kyle paused, "She said that this was her last chance. You don't get too many working for Khivar, apparently. She didn't get me, 'cause of you and she didn't manage to break us up 'cause we found out."

"She looked at us and she started to laugh again. Then she said, well I paid her back didn't I. I took everyone she loved away - and then before we could do anything, she reached behind her and pressed something," Max added.

"The next thing we knew, she was dust. Not a big loss, in my opinion," Kyle said, a little coldly. The girl hated his almost sister and did her best to destroy them. He couldn't say he felt any loss for her.

"She killed herself?" Maria said in shock, not expecting that.

"Yeah. Pulled the plug, so to speak," Alex said, even less apologetically than Kyle. What Courtney did was unforgivable to him.

"I don't think Khivar would have let her live, or that we would," Michael said as darkly.

Maria stood up and turned around, wrapping her arms around herself. She shivered. It was difficult to imagine someone hating her that much.

Reading her mind almost, something he hadn't much of a chance to practise in recent times, Michael said softly to her, "It wasn't your fault. None of it was - she just… had a few loose screws, that's all, Maria."

"No. I guess it wasn't. She was right about one thing though. She took all of you away. In one move, she got all of you to leave me. I guess her mission was a success after all," Maria said, equally softly.

"We made a big mistake, Maria but we didn't totally leave. We could never do that," Alex said to her, willing her to turn back around. She did, her eyes bright with unshed tears and anger. And pain.

"You know, of all people you were the one that was supposed to stay. You and Kyle. You stayed when everyone else left in the summer. You were supposed to stay - you promised that you were never going to leave. Not like my father. Not like Michael. Not like Liz. You said you would always stay. You lied," Maria uttered, her words like daggers into his heart, into Kyle's for letting her down, into Michael's for once again realising how much he hurt her.

"Oh, Ria. I am so sorry. You don't know how hard it was to stay away. I used to pick up the phone everyday to phone. Everytime I saw I just wanted to run to you and fix everything. Nothing was right. But everyday it seemed like the distance got wider and wider and it just got harder and harder. We were really worried when you quit at the Crashdown, but I knew you wouldn't talk to us and everyone else were still so raw about it all, I…I just let it go on too long." Alex said. He walked to her and grabbed her hand, "I don't know how to fix this, Maria but I will do anything to make you trust me again."

"I don't know if that is possible, Alex," she answered him sadly, "You know I think its me sometimes… that something about me makes you leave."

"That is not true, Maria Ursula Deluca and you know better. Your father was a jerk and we were all wrong Maria. But we came back. We came back. And we are not leaving ever again," he said to her, his voice firm and without any doubts.

"I don't know, Alex. I'm not sure I believe that's possible anymore," Maria answered, her voice quiet and little unsure. And a tear ran down her face. She turned her head away from him

"Yes. It is. Don't make me resort to the card. Because I will if I have too," Alex said. He lifted his hand and gently turned her face back to him. The others looked confused at the turn of the conversation, but stayed silent. It wasn't their time to speak yet.

And despite herself Maria smiled, "You wouldn't!"

"Oh, but ma cherie. I would," he said in a fake accent trying to coax another smile out of her.

"I can't believe you remembered," she said.

"I'm desperate… and you said when all else fails," he replied.

Putting on the accent again and miming the actions, Alex held up an imaginary card in his hand, "I present the all famous For use only once, the one and only, the friendship saviour Get-out-of-jail card. Now, do we need a retraining in the use of the card. I shall proceed, n'est pas. Okay?"

Michael, Max and Kyle looked totally in the dark. Silently they urged him to explain. Maria, on the other hand, watched his actions knowingly.

Alex continued in his normal voice, all traces of humour gone, his tone both serious and contrite
"At least you gave me the courtesy of asking me, you didn't just leave - I won't ever forgive myself for that, Maria."

"Can I use the card?" he said, looking into her eyes.

"Oh, Alex. I don't know," she replied.

And together the two remembered how and why the card was given. It was over a year ago, back when Alex didn't know the secret of the pod squad's origins. Right in the beginning, Liz's journal had gone missing and Maria asked Alex if he had taken it. It turned out that Michael borrowed it, and the next day Maria had gone up to Alex and apologised. It was also the day she had given him the card. The card that gave the holder of such card one free total and complete absolution and forgiveness for one stupid mistake that might risk their friendship - a joke only the two of them got, one no one ever thought would be needed.

"Okay, I'll forgive you, Alex. Free and total as agreed but… I am not sure if I can forget," Maria replied sadly.

"I know, Maria. I don't think I will ever forget either," he replied as unhappily. He took his hand and wiped her cheek gently and gave her a small smile, "Want to hit me? It'll make you feel better, I swear."

And she laughed as he planned, Alex wrapped her in his arms. Her laughter was the thing he missed the most. She returned the hug tightly.

"Will we okay, Alex?" she mumbled into his shoulder, fear in her voice.

"I won't let us not be, Maria," he said into her hair, determination in his.

He released her reluctantly, and pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear he smiled and stepped back, "I better go and see what's taking the drinks so long," he said, a little lighter. Things weren't totally fixed but at least the recovery had begun. They were gluing the pieces back together, little by little - pieces of broken hearts.

With one last glance at her, Alex pushed her back down into her seat and left the room. Kyle walked up to her and crouched in front of her taking both hands into his large ones.

"Do big brothers get second chances, Ria?" he asked sombrely.

Maria leaned forward and her forehead touched his softly, "I'm so tired of crying, Kyle. Its so hard."

"I wish you didn't hurt Maria. I wish it wasn't me that made you hurt."

"Me, too… Kyle… will everything ever be the way it was?" she said to him. Somehow it was easier to forgive him than the others or maybe she was just so tired.

"Maybe not the same, Ria but better. We won't take you for granted ever again, I swear."

"Why me? Why did she hate me?" Maria said heartbreakingly.

"She was just jealous, baby. You … its because you were the centre… the one everyone loved the most. The heart of the group."

"I don't want to be the heart… I just to be me. I just want to go back to before when things were simple. Did you know Liz was jealous of me? Me! I never knew that… I don't understand how that could be, Kyle. She has this perfect life, a perfect family, everything - why would she envy me?" Maria asked him, confusion clouding her voice. He was the one person that she could talk to about this stuff, because in a way, he hadn't always been a part of it, and stayed somewhat objective.

Since Kyle had discovered Buddhism, he spent a lot more time observing and it was because of this he had an idea of what Maria was asking, had an idea of Liz's feelings and even an understanding of why she felt that way. In a way, he could see why Liz was jealous and he could see why Max's reliance on Maria could make her see things that way. He could see the same things in Alex and even himself towards her … even if it was innocent, and he saw the reactions in Isabel and Tess. Although Isabel probably understood it better having a slightly similar relationship with Michael. Michael on the other hand was hard to read… he of all of them recognised Maria's innate power to attract, how he felt was difficult to figure out.

"Liz does trust you Maria… she just felt like she lost Max, like she was losing you and it all just came out wrong - it wasn't your fault. None of it was. You believe me, don't you?" he said to her, reassuringly, "Please don't cry. You know I hate it when you cry. Here," he pulled out a squished, half melted chocolate out his pocket and gave it to her, "Chocolate," he announced like it was the solution to the world's problems.

"Bribery, Kyle," Maria said, and she stopped crying.

"Whatever it takes, sis," he replied grinning hopefully up at her, "I need you to know, Maria that even if we hadn't heard that conversation with Courtney, we would have still come back. I know its hard to believe right now but I would have come back. Please believe that," he said a little desperately.

"Okay, Kyle. I'll believe it. I need to," she said to him, her tone as desperate. She leaned forward again and he leaned forward and met her halfway.

"Want me to grovel, Maria. I know you like that - the whole on your knees thing, seems like I do that a lot around you."

"I can't help it that I got a brother who hasn't yet quite picked up the correct way to behave that most people learn in kindergarten," she joked, "And look, you're practically on your knees already."

"I can't help it if I have a sister that uses cruel and unusual punishment as a means of revenge," he answered back at her.

"Me. Ha. You just don't like to admit when you are wrong," she said indignantly.

"That's because, sister dearest I am never wrong," his tone was smug.

And suddenly her smile left her face and she threw herself in his arms, "I missed you, Kyle."

"Me, too, Ria," he replied fervently, "And if you make me cry, I will never speak to you ever again."

"Okay," she said. And for a few minutes no one said anything and Maria just hung on for dear life, to her honorary brother.

"I won't ever leave, Ria. Me and Alex, you'll always have us, okay. No matter what." Kyle added before letting her go.

"No matter what?" she asked.

"No matter what," he replied. And it was a vow, and oath. One he never meant to break ever again.

"Okay, big brother. I suppose now, you are going to check on those drinks. They're probably making the glasses - we all know how long that takes," she said and those eavesdropping at the entrance to the living room all knew that their not so subtle attempts at leaving failed.

"Quick as always, Maria," Kyle said, "And you know they need my help - pouring drinks is such a difficult feat after all, my expertise is obviously required." Kyle kept his face straight and watched as she giggled. He made her laugh, he thought proudly.

He pulled her to her feet and pushed her towards Max, "Go, talk to him," he ordered and he left.

End Part 18

Part Nineteen

"Max," Maria said flatly, "Its been a while."

"Yes, it has, Maria. I … I know what I did, what I said is unforgivable but I would appreciate it if you would give me a chance to explain," he said, looking at her pleadingly.

"You said I ruined your life, Max. You have an excuse for that?" she asked him directly, as was her manner. It was, and had always been a little disconcerting. Michael could particularly testify to that.

"Not an excuse, Maria. Nothing I could do could make up for that. Just an explanation. Then you can decide if you would be willing to give me another chance at earning your friendship," Max spoke formally. It was an occasion, an apology that was too serious for anything else.

"Have you any idea what it feels like to be accused of destroying someone's life, to be told to get out of their life, Max. Do you? And by your best friend." Her voice was one of total disappointment, of accusation.

And he felt it, her every word was like a dagger. Until now, Max thought he couldn't possibly have felt as bad as he did in the White Room or when Liz left after their destiny was first revealed. He was wrong - then, he had the knowledge of knowing he was right… that he was on the side of good, that he didn't deserve what happened to him - it was a knowledge he always took for granted, one Michael envied him for, one Michael had to work to achieve. Now, for the first time looking into the eyes of the person who he betrayed, Max felt, how truly awful his actions were. What he did, what he said, his total lack of belief in the one person that never gave up on him was possibly one of the worst things he ever did. One he wasn't sure he deserved to be forgiven for. One he really had no right to ask for forgiveness.

But she deserved to be asked. To at least know that he was sorry, to understand why he behaved so abominably and it was because of that, he was going to try to explain.

"Do you know what you were to me? What you did for me… how you saved me? I don't know if telling you will make it worse what I did or help you understand how come it hurt so much when I lost everything, and all I had left was anger… I just lashed out to the person that I blamed for it all," Max started. He stared at the floor, then he looked up. He was going to face her during this. She deserved to look him in the face, even if it was killing him to see what he did in hers.

"Okay, Max. Explain it to me. Explain to me how the one person that should have understood a false accusation, considering your origins could believe one in his best friend," she asked him angrily. He was the one that kissed the Skin. Of all of them, Maria couldn't decide who she was madder at, but she did know one thing, Max was at the top of her list. With Michael, for once in her life Maria had taken the easy way out - it hurt too much to think about him so she didn't, some of the time at least.

"I guess it all started at the White Room… it was like all my worst fears came through all at the same time. I was captured, Liz left and to top it all of, I was supposed to be some damn king. A king - all I was, was a teenage boy," Max got up and started pacing. He was just talking now, finally getting it all of his chest. He looked only at Maria. He didn't even seem to notice Michael still in the room, or the others walking in and sitting quietly.

"I was all alone, Michael was dealing with losing you and killing Pierce and Isabel was in shock… seeing our real mother and everything else - I couldn't tell her about the nightmares, and what happened there, it was her biggest fear. I was drowning, Maria, inside and I just couldn't see a way out - I wanted to go to Liz but she just left… just disappeared. I could have dealt with her breaking up with me if I could still have her as a friend, but she just… went to Florida. Then, then there was you… it was like you knew I was this close to losing it. My parents could see it, they sent me to counselling … but what was I suppose to say - I was tortured and the girl I loved more then life left me because lets not forget I am suppose to be king of another planet. Yeah that would have gone down real well," he paused and looked at her to see if she was hearing him, listening to him. She nodded and he started again, not noticing the guilt on the others in the room.

"You never asked questions. You just made sure I laughed, that I smiled, that I got through the day and you never gave up hope on Michael or Liz. Everytime I would think about how mad I was at her for leaving, I would think about you and Michael. How it didn't matter what he said, you always knew what he meant," he said glancing up at her, mid pacing.

"You were my lifeline, I guess I just got used to having you always being there, you telling me that everything was going to be alright, that we all got to have happy endings because we were the good guys. And you were right, things got better. You made me speak to Tess, even when I wanted to stay away from her, you made me practise when I wanted as little to being an alien as possible.

It was all getting better, and Liz and I got back together. But it wasn't the same… I guess a part of me never forgot that she left when I needed her most. And that part remembered that you were the one I talked to, the one that made the nightmares go away for a little while just by being my friend. I couldn't give that up, you… you were my stability. I didn't know she was jealous, you know - but I think she may be right. I do come to talk to you now. Its not that I can't talk to her, just that I relied on you. You're so strong, like Michael - I always needed that. Being around you made me strong. Its funny, isn't it… a king who can't make a single decision by himself," he added the last sentence ruefully.

Maria let Max talk. In a way what he said made perfect sense. Their friendship began after the people they loved most in the world left. In the beginning she did it more for Michael and Liz. She was taking care of Max, because they couldn't do it just then. It was her way of losing her own pain in that horrible summer, but their friendship grew. Then she did it for Max. Because he needed her, because he couldn't do it on his own. She saw Liz, Isabel, Tess, Kyle, and Alex come in with the drinks and she knew that Max hadn't. She didn't say anything. They all needed to hear this, their group needed to get issues out in the open, get rid of the hurt before it killed them. The Galinas had been right - she needed to talk to her friends, to forgive them. Not for them only but for her.

"When that skin came up to me and I saw her, I thought it was you and I was so happy to see you. I was thinking, at that second, that it was perfect. You, Liz, Michael and me - the four of us. We could all go out together like it was before." Max didn't say before what… they all knew what it meant. Before everything. Before Destiny. Before the FBI. Before the Skins.

"And then she kissed me. I was in total shock. I couldn't comprehend it in a way… and then I pushed her away, and I turned and saw Liz, and Michael just staring at me," he stopped pacing and just stared at the floor for a few seconds.

"They looked so… so betrayed. Like I dug out their hearts with a spoon, laughing. And then Michael punched me. Michael doesn't hit people, you know… he's stronger than that. Stronger than me. I hit him before, even though I knew, knew about Hank, and he always forgave me - he always forgave me everything, but this, this was the first time Michael ever hit me. It hurt. It hurt like hell and then he took off. I looked up and she was gone and Liz… Liz was running."

It was difficult to be mad when you saw pain in someone else. All this time Maria kept her eyes on Max but now she took one glance at Michael to see what he was thinking. And she could see it in his face… the pain he normally took such great care to hide, the look he got when anyone mentioned Hank, the pain from Max hitting him, from doing to Max what he thought of as an unforgivable act, the pain from the memory of that day.

"I spent the whole night trying to talk to them. I begged Liz and looked everywhere for Michael but he just disappeared and then the next day I walked into school and there you were and all I saw was someone that didn't even care that she had just destroyed all out lives. It was like you didn't care that you betrayed Michael, and Liz and…me. Then I got mad, so mad…" he started to pace again.

"Michael told me once that my problem was that I didn't recognise flaws. That I saw Liz as perfect, that I had been staring at her so long that I couldn't see she wasn't. He was right then, but when Liz left, it took me a while but I finally figured out that she was just… just human. But then I guess I transferred my reliance onto you. I wasn't in love with you but I needed you, so when everything blew up and I saw you that morning after, I…lashed out. I just let all that pent up anger I was feeling, the whole night, all onto you. I didn't see that you didn't know, that were just worried about us, I couldn't see just then… how impossible it all was, but the thing of it all was, the reason I got so mad, so angry was because it was all so impossible. You were my stability, my friend and I just lost you. Just like that, a snap of your fingers and another thing in my life just crumbled."

Max stopped in front of Maria and following Kyle's example crouched in front of her and took her hands in his, "I…" he started.

And she interrupted, "I need to know Max, with Alex, Kyle, Isabel and Tess I know that they were trying to contact me - but you - would you have ever asked me what happened. Did you even care where I was, what I was doing? Would you…?"

And this time, it was Max that interjected, "I wish I could say for sure that I would have Maria. I wish I could say that I was over it, over all the anger and pain and could see past that but honestly Maria, I just don't know."

Maria didn't hide the pain like she had been doing for so long - she let it show, and she watched as a tear left Max's eye, her eyes fixed on the slow progress it made as it rolled down Max's cheek. He lifted his hand and wiped the ones on her face, "We all cried too much over this already, Maria. I know it was selfish, I know what I did was the worst kind of sin, that I gave up on you when you would have never have, have never given up on me… I know what I said is no excuse, but Maria I just wanted you to understand. Understand how much you meant to me as a friend, understand how sorry I am. I took you for granted, we all did and I swear Maria if you take me back I will fix things with you, with Liz, with Michael, with Isabel, with everyone… I just don't know if I can do any of it without you telling me its all going to be okay…"

"Its all going to okay, Max," Maria cut his apology off, and she believed what she said. It was so easy to forgive him, so easy after all that to just let go of all the pain and anger. Max always needed her more than any of the others, except Michael and Maria could never deny that need - to let him hurt, the same way Michael, in a way, always tried to protect Max from the painful things in life. They all failed once, and Max was still paying from the effects of that time. In a way hearing it all from the beginning, from the White Room helped Maria put in all in perspective. It was time for them to stop hurting.

And then all her thoughts flew out her head, as Max threw himself in her arms and wrapped his arms around her. She flew backwards, almost losing her balance, but she hugged back. And for the first time watching, Liz felt no jealousy, Michael felt no envy and the others felt relief. None of them had really understood Max's reliance on Maria, and now that they did, the relief was for the fact that she had been there for him when they had not, and for her forgiving him.

"Drinks, everyone," Alex said out aloud when Max let go of Maria and he got up and gave Max one and handed Maria hers.

Max looked surprised to see him, to see them. He saw Liz walk over to them, and he gave her a tentative smile - and she returned it. Liz wrapped her arms around him and sat softly in his ear, "I'm sorry I left you, that I was jealous." And he knew then that they would be fine, that they would talk again.

Then Liz walked to Maria and hugged her and whispered a little tearfully, "I'm sorry I left you, that I left Max, for being jealous. Thank you for taking care of him."

"I care about him too, you know," Maria replied quietly.

"I know. I know and I won't be jealous any more. Not now. I never knew he felt any of that," Liz said.

"You know now. That's what matters."

"How'd you get so smart, huh?"

"It's the genes, chica," Maria said and she started to laugh and then Liz started, and for a few moments they couldn't stop. It was like something in them got released. And it was almost like it was before.

Max found himself standing next to Michael, both of them leaning against the wall. They didn't look at each but instead stared at the two girls that were laughing across the room.

"She does love you. I know she'll forgive you, Michael," Max said to his friend.

"I don't know, Maxwell. This was your first mistake… I seem to be forever making them.
She's not always going to take me back," Michael replied, almost too soft to hear. Max nodded, acknowledging his reply and they were silent.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Michael broke the silence.

"Yes, she is. They both are," Max replied.

Michael turned now to face him, "I was jealous, you know. Not like Liz but… because you got to hold her and listen to her talk, and be with. And I couldn't. I'm sorry about that, Maximillian."

"It's okay, Michael. I envied you as well."

"You did, why?

"Because you were always more brave. You killed Pierce - and you suffered for that, and that's the one thing in the world I wanted to do. When he took me, I lost all control of my life, and I needed to get it back. You got it back for me."

"You were not meant for killing, Maxwell. You're suppose to heal. Its not the same with me," Michael answered him.

"You're wrong Michael. Did you ever think that if you meant to be a killer wouldn't suffer killing the one man that really deserved to die. What you did was to protect us all, just like you always did, Michael. " and there was silence again.

"I missed talking to you, Michael," Max said softly.

"I missed talking to you too."

End Part 19

Part Twenty.

"Okay, everybody out," Michael ordered when he noticed them all getting comfortable, "I need to talk to Maria."

"But, Michael," Tess whined, "We want to hear what you say."

"This isn't some soap opera, Tess. You don't get to watch," he replied.
Maria didn't say anything. But the others made sure that there protests were unmistakable as they filed out the room. They didn't go far.

"Well, aren't you going to say something, yell at me or something," Michael asked a silent Maria. Her silence was not a good omen. At least when she shouted at him, he knew that they would come out of whatever they going through at the time, alright.

"You wanted to talk. So talk," Maria said quietly. She wasn't going to help him out.

"I… I don't know what to say. Yes, I do," and in that second all his good intentions flew out the window and his voice rose, " Why didn't you tell me the truth. Why didn't you try to defend yourself?"

Maria was shocked. Then, again not so much. This was Michael after all - a simple apology would be too much. And then she got mad. Really mad. And her decision to stay quiet, to remain calm was discarded in a single second, and her mind, her body, her soul reacted as it always did to him. She stood up and moved to stand directly in front of him and yelled right back, "Me. I didn't do anything wrong, Michael. You the one that believed that stupid skin. Not me. I don't have to defend myself to you. To anyone."

"I would have believed you, you know. If you said anything. I wanted so badly to not believe what I saw that night. If you said one thing to me, I would have believed you. Why didn't you fight for us, Maria? You always fight for us. Why not this time?" he asked tiredly. The last question was rhetorical - he knew why. He sat down on the sofa and she collapsed next to him, equally tired. It had been an emotional day - she just didn't have the energy to fight.

"I'm tired of being the one that always fights, Michael. Did you ever think that? Do you know how much it hurts to know that you don't matter enough for people to make the least bit of an effort for you."

"Yes, I do. You…you were the only person that ever did. for me, not because I was the same species, but me, the person. Maria you do matter. You matter more than anything else in the world."

"Then why didn't you fight for me, Michael. Our relationship has never meant anything to you at all. It was always second, all I ever was to you was some make-out buddy - I just wanted to be important to you. Like you were to me," she said softly.

"How can you say that, Maria. You know that I love you. I always loved you. That's why it hurt so much when I saw you with Max. It was like my whole world ended in that second."

"That wasn't me, Michael and you should have known that. I always seem to be the one doing all the work in this relationship. Because you have more important things to do."

"That is nor true. The most important thing has always been you. Always, even when I didn't show it," he said his voice urging her to believe.

"Please, Michael. I know you think I am not that smart, but don't insult my intelligence. Even I know, I did all the chasing. Or did you forget about those three months. God, I must have left like 200 messages on your machine. Not once did you phone back, or even answer the phone. Knowing you, you probably deleted all of them before you even heard them."

"You want to know what I did with those messages,. Fine I'll tell you. You, the messages they were only thing that kept me from giving up. Everytime you phoned… for those few minutes when I listened to your voice, I felt that I wasn't a killer - that at least in your eyes I was still the same. I couldn't tape over them, so I bought another cassette, and another and another. I have a whole box full lying in my cupboard," Michael told her, avoiding her eyes. He always hated admitting what he was feeling.

"You kept them?" she asked wondrously. And it was reminiscent of another conversation, a long time ago over a treasured napkin holder.

"Yeah," he answered, a little embarrassed.

And they were silent for a few minutes.

"I used to watch you, you know. During the summer. With Max. I knew you were just taking care of him, while I couldn't. And being his friend. But…" he started. Since he was admitting things, he might as well tell her everything.

"But?" she asked when he stopped. She knew he used to watch her. She could feel him.

"I was jealous. Not because I thought something was going on, but because I …," he stopped again unsure of how to continue. "I used to envy, Max you know," he started again., "He always had this perfect life. The perfect family, the perfect house. He got Isabel as a sister - everything was always perfect in his life. And there I was, this kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Max and Isabel would probably have had nothing to do with me if we weren't the same species. Then there was you. And for the first time in my life I had something that was all mine. And she didn't even care about where I was from, or any of that." Michael said so softly, you could hardly hear him.

"And you thought Max took me away from you," Maria finished for him, saying what he didn't.

"I didn't always think that. Just sometimes, you know. He got to hold you and wipe away your tears and laugh with you. I hated that the most - that you would laugh with him. You used to do that with me. When that kiss happened, I didn't want to believe what I saw. But at the same time there was this voice inside me telling me I never really deserved you, that you need someone better than me and Max - he was perfect."

"I never wanted Max, Michael. Only you. And you want to know the truth - I used to think that you deserved someone better too. Someone that wasn't so scared, that could see flashes, and was smart like Liz, someone beautiful like Isabel. That why you didn't just love me the way I loved you.

"How can you say that Maria. You… you're the most beautiful girl I ever saw, and if I
wanted advise I come to you - we all do - how can you think that you are not smart, and as
for being brave, I never met anyone that was so brave. You would do anything for your friends, no matter how scared you were, " Michael defended her passionately, surprised. It never occurred to him she would think she wasn't good enough for him. "The flashes are my fault. I… I was so scared if you saw what was inside me, saw everything you would leave me."

"I would never have done that Michael. But I guess all of this is moot now.," she said sadly.

Michael took his wallet out, and pulled a folded paper out. He handed it to her, and too surprised to do anything she took it.

"What is it?" she asked, staring at the page in her hand.

"You wanted to know how I feel about you, and what I did all summer - that's what I did," he replied, his voice nervous, wary of her reaction.

She looked at him for a moment, her eyes searching his before unfolding the page. Its corners were creased, like they had been unfolded many times before. And there staring at her, was a sketch, of her. Detailed, beautiful, vibrating with energy. It was fading slightly as if it been handled a lot.

"I have 3 sketchbooks of you," he said, his voice quiet so as not too disturb the silence as she stared at the picture.

"Its so beautiful, Michael. You made me beautiful," she turned to face him, a tear in her eye. Then she stood and began to pace, "I can't do this again, Michael. I am not strong enough to survive being hurt again. its hurts so damn bad," and Maria burst into tears.

He took her in his arms as she cried, her tears soaking his shirt, "I am so sorry, Maria. So very sorry," he said over and over to her, into her hair, his eyes suspiciously wet.

She leaned back a little and looked at him, "Why didn't you ask me, Michael?"

"I…wanted to Maria. I wanted to so badly but I was so scared that if I did, you would tell me it was true. As long as I didn't ask, a part of me could just hope," he swiped an impatient hand over his face, removing the moisture.

"I don't know what to do, Michael. I can't get back on the roller-coaster that our relationship was - its too hard," Maria said unhappily.

"Okay, Maria."

"Okay! Okay! That's it. That's all you can say. Don't you want to…" Maria's voice rose as she glared at him, hurt filling her eyes.

"Maria!" She ignored his call.

"Maria!" This time he shouted, "If you would just let me finish, Michael said pointedly, "I was going to say that we can start at the beginning."

"The beginning?"

"Yeah, you know. Build tracks - friendship tracks and when you're ready we get back on the train. I promise it won't be a scary roller-coaster," he said, looking at her shyly. He would do anything not to lose her.

"Friends, Michael? I don't know if we can. Do you even know what being a friend means?" and she smiled a little to take away the harshness of her question.

Sensing victory, he smirked back at her, "Sure I do. What we were except kisses are limited to 30 seconds."

"Kisses. Friends don't kiss Michael. And definitely not 30 seconds. Two at the most," Maria replied.

"20 seconds," he answered back, negotiating.

"Five, and that's pushing it." she said feeling normal again.

"Ten seconds. Final offer. Take it or leave it," he said, relief flooding his system at getting to argue with her again.

"Deal!" she held out her hand to shake.

He stared at it like it was a foreign object, "Uh-uh. I think we should seal it with a kiss," he said hopefully.

"You wish, spaceboy," and she laughed at his chagrined expression.

And then the silence took over again.

"I know you're really mad at me, Maria," Michael broke the silence, "I need you to forgive me."

"Forgiving you isn't the problem, Michael. I …. I can't fight for us anymore, Michael. I'm not sure I even believe in us anymore." She didn't look at him, staring at her hands.

"You don't have to fight for us any more, Maria. Its my turn," Michael said softly. He turned to face her, and taking her chin in his hand he gently turned her face towards him, "I WILL fight for you, Maria. Believe that, if you don't believe anything else."

She looked at him, searching his eyes, reading them as she always did, to his soul, to his innermost thoughts and fears - that was her power. And then she nodded slowly, "Okay, Michael I'll believe that." And again his eyes showed his relief, and that tiny kernel of hope that always just refused to die.

She leant back against the seat and he followed her. They stared at the ceiling, their minds dealing with everything, sorting all the pain and hurt, the hope filling the empty spaces. Their silent moment - there was no need to fill it. It was his gift to her to get her to accept him again.

He broke it, again - a part of him needing to tell her everything, but as usual, as was Michael's way when it came to his feelings he took the indirect route. "Max's greatest fear isn't torture, you know or getting caught - its losing control. He'll handle everything but that. And Isabel's - her's is to be alone. Tess is more complicated, she has been taught her whole life all about destiny, and now the unknown looms ahead, that's her fear."

Maria waited for him to continue when he stopped. She knew him, knew saying these things were hard.

He waited for a few minutes, gathering the courage to say it - a strange superstition that if he said it aloud it would come true. "Mine…my greatest fear - the thing that scares me the most, Maria is you. That I love you too much, that I will lose you, that you will get hurt because of me, that one day my powers will go out of control and you'll be the one that suffers, that someone is going to use you to get to me, that you will die," his voice choked after the rush of words that came out, "because of who I am."

He lifted a hand and absent-mindedly wiped his face in an impatient gesture. She lifted her hand and smoothed it over his face, a gently wiping the tears away.

"I made my choice, Michael, a long time ago. People die, Michael. And if I do, it won't be your fault. Everything I ever did, I made a choice to do. My choice, Michael." She smiled sadly at him, "You can't run away from that, Michael. You can throw me away but my choices would still be the same."

"I can't lose you, Maria. Giving you up before was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I can't do that again," he said. And her words somehow managed to get through the walls of guilt, pain and loneliness, his voice grew determined, "I guess you're stuck with me." He smiled at her, a real smile - not a smirk.

"Heaven help me," Maria joked softly, smiling back. He laughed at her tone in reply.

"So, friend, when do I get to see these sketchbooks of yours?" she asked, breaking the sombre mood.

"No way. I can't have my FRIEND think I have an obsession with her," he said smugly, paying her back.

"Michael," Maria whined, "Friends show each other everything."

"Everything…mmmm," he jokingly leered at her.

"No flirting. That's not allowed," Maria said grinning at him, a slow electric feeling uncurling in her stomach at the familiar look.

"Is too," Michael said.

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not. Fine, lets ask Isabel."

"Fine. Isabel," Michael yelled.

There was a loud crash and the sound of glass breaking. The door swung open and 6 people fell through, landing on the ground. Max and Alex on the bottom, with Kyle and Isabel on top of them and Tess right on top of the pyramid of bodies. Liz had been flung to the side.

A number of groans were heard and shouts of "Get of me," screamed.

"Kyle, that better be your elbow."

"Man, you're heavy!"

"Excuse me. Are you calling me fat, Alex. You better not be calling me fat."

"Not you, Isabel, " came the quick panicked reply.

"You're a dead man if you're talking a bout me, Alexander Charles Whitman."

"I wasn't talking about you Tess."

"Then who?"

"Get off me. I am being crushed here."

"I was talking about… Kyle… yes, Kyle."

"I am not fat. Those are muscles."

"Kyle isn't even on top of you, Alex."

"Liz, honey. Help me. I'm being crushed."

"Hang on baby, I am coming."

"I am not FAT."

With a number of moans, the 6 scrambled to their feet, glaring at each other.
Michael and Maria glanced once at each other and bit back the laughter.
Michael gave the six a stern look, "What precisely do you think you were doing?" he said , his voice serious, radiating disapproval.
And immediately the eavesdroppers looks changed to slightly apologetic, ashamed looks of those that had been caught red-handed, reacting to Michael's tone.

"We were um…" Alex trailed of, unable to come up with a reasonable explanation. He shot a helpless look at the others and Tess, forgetting his earlier gauche about the slight weight issue thought quickly and said the first thing that came to her mind.

"Umm…we were testing the door." It wasn't her best effort.
Maria took over, her voice equally stern, "Of course. What else would you be doing?" she said
sarcastically, "Its good to know my door…"

"Opens," Michael supplied helpfully.

"Yes, opens. Thank you, Michael. I'm sure my Mom will be glad to note that the doors have no defaults and swing open if someone turns the knob," Maria continued.

"This behaviour is totally unacceptable. You should be ashamed. What do you have to say for yourself," Michael asked , and starting with Liz, he gave her a his most intimidating glare, one few (with the exception of Maria) ever could withstand.

Liz cracked immediately. Pointing to Max, she shouted, "It was his idea."

"Was not," Max yelled back, "It was Kyle's."

And then everyone turned on each other, and at the top of their voices accusations rang out as the debate raged on whose idea it was to eavesdrop.

Maria looked at her newly returned friends, smiling inwardly and then at Michael. It was the amused look in his eyes that had her bursting into mad giggles. Then Michael started to laugh as well and before long they were both on the floor, killing it. Their amusement, however went unnoticed by fervent debaters.

The subject in contention had already moved from blame back to the fat issue and right now poor Alex was being given the silent treatment by Isabel, Tess and Kyle. Max wasn't talking to Liz and Kyle wasn't talking to Max. Despite that, everyone was still yelling, at least until Alex grabbed Isabel's hand and pointed to Michael and Maria on the floor.

Isabel gave a war cry and yelled, "Get them!" and everyone dived for the two.

Ten minutes later, 8 exhausted teens collapsed on the sofas and couches in the room, too tired to do much but sit quietly in a silence that was comfortable - one amongst friends. That is, they were quiet until loud escalating voices had them looking up to see Michael take of running, Maria right behind him, yelling loudly. A football tackle had both landing hard on the ground, Maria on top of Michael. Not pausing, the two continued their argument which had been reduced to:

"Can not."

"Can too."

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Ah. Back to normal," Alex said, sighing happily.

"Aren't they cute?" Liz repeated the sentiment.

"I taught her that football tackle," Kyle added proudly.

"Not!"

"Too!"

"What are they arguing about anyway?" Max asked.

"Beats me. I don't think they know," Tess replied, her head moving side to side like the others, watching the two on the floor.

"We all still have a lot to talk about," Alex said sombrely, remembering some of the things that had already been said.

"Yeah. Just not today," Isabel answered and changed the subject to a happier one, "Who would have thought I would miss the two of them fighting?"

"Definitely not me. How long do you think they are going to keep up this friend thing?" Max asked curiously.

"I'll give them a day," Alex replied.

"I don't know… I figure she'll make him suffer for at least a week," Liz said confidently.

"I think he's serious about the friendship thing, a month," Isabel put in thoughtfully.

"I think she's serious about it - definitely going to hold him to it," Tess added.

"Half an hour tops."

Everyone turned to stare at Kyle.

"What? Look at them," he said defensively.

And they all turned to look.

"He's got a point. That's an interesting position," Tess observed, staring at Maria lying on top of Michael, her hair flowing down the side, his fingers resting lightly on her tiny waist.

"Do you think they notice?" Isabel asked.

"I'm pretty sure they do," Max answered after all of them studied the two, objectively of course.

"She looks like she likes it," Liz said, a scientific observation from a scientific person.

"I'm pretty sure he's liking it," Kyle said in his jock, locker room voice. Tess hit his arm warningly.

"Maybe we should leave," Alex suggested, "Give them some time to… what they say?"

"Build tracks," Isabel replied.

Max gave a mock bow to Liz and held out his arm in invitation. "Shall we, milady?"

"Of course, kind sir," Liz answered, slipping her arm in his and they led the way out the room.

"Man, those two are nauseating," Kyle said, in a disgusted tone, to the total agreement of the rest. But it was with a sense of relief that Max and Liz had returned to their usual behaviour.

"At least Michael and Maria are interesting to watch," Tess said, and taking Kyle's hand, followed the Max and Liz out the room.

Alex smiled at Isabel and the two reached for each other's fingers, and also left giving their friends one last relieved look.

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Ha! Gotcha!" Maria yelled triumphantly and sat up on Michael's stomach swinging her legs on either side of him.

"You cheated," he accused half-heartedly, a little distracted by her new position.

"Still beat you," she replied, automatically.

She looked around, "Where did everyone go?"

----------The end-------------

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