Sugar Rush

By Wendy

Disclaimer: Nothing that is Roswell belongs to me.
Note: I never intended Melt to be more than it was, but the feedback has been great. Hope I don't disappoint with this second take.

"You mean it's not real?" Alex glanced between the cookie in his hand and the girl across the quad. His hopes for swaying Isabel were dashed.

"Only by the power of the mind," Liz explained. "Original Sin is a cookie recipe. A very tasty one, true, but the rest is all suggestion."

"They ARE good," he nibbled with a sigh. Then he shrugged at Maria. "So that means Michael and Kyle were all over you by mental trickery."

"Yeah, I guess," came her deflated response.

"Not necessarily," Liz put in. "I can't figure out Kyle's motive. I think Michael used it as an excuse to get close."

"Thanks for that," Maria gave a soft smile. "I just don't know. This is Me-Against-The-World Guerin we're talking about. He hates being one upped in competition with a Valenti. That has to be it."

"Is that what you want to believe?" Alex was never one to hedge.

***

Michael sat beside Max during History. They were watching a video about the Korean War. Max gave it his full attention, allowing Michael the chance to study his profile. How was he able to keep it all together? Great grades, loving family, a steady job and a dedicated girlfriend. Sure, those were some very strong pluses.

Then there was the question of their heritage, the limit of their special abilities, a rogue fourth alien and the continual threat of Sheriff Valenti and the FBI. He himself provided Max with plenty of challenges. Scrapes with the law, a rotten home life and a bad attitude.

The guy was squeaky clean. Sometimes he hated that about his friend. He could never hope to compare to Max Evans. He didn't want to in all honesty. What he would like was a small slice of the happiness apparent in those dark eyes.

"Are you okay?" Max asked as the bell rang.

Michael's chair scraped across the floor as he stood. Could it be as easy as asking how? "Peachy."

"Peachy?" A weird look shot toward him. That was a definite Mariaism.

He started walking, leaving Max to trail behind. "Can we talk after school?"

"Sure. Meet me by the jeep. Isabel is going shopping with friends. We'll drive." Talk? Michael never wanted to talk. Max stared after him wondering what was up now.

***

Maria was about to open her locker when a well toned arm stretched before it. She levelled her gaze at the offender. "Kyle."

"Maria," he was cool. He sized her up.

"What?" she was impatient.

"Relax, beautiful. I wanted a status report for class later."

She gave him a gentle shove and opened her locker. With a grand gesture, she indicated an elegantly wrapped box. "Cookies. Summary typed with double spacing. Happy now?"

"Not yet," he leaned in. His velvet voice brushed her ear. "I say we tell them the story. Mrs. P will eat it up. Easy A."

She chuckled over his unintentional pun, knowing full well he missed it. "Oh, we'll get that A."

"So you'll do it?" his hand touched her waist.

"Do what?" she dropped her attention to his warm fingers.

"Pretend I fell for you," he wore his winning dimples.

"Are you crazy?" she snorted. "Who is going to believe that?"

He gave her an unconvincing pained expression. "Ouch. My shattered male ego. Come on, Maria. We tell that story, get cuddle close. They're a bunch of suckers."

"The exact terminology of 'cuddle close' would be ...?"

"Follow my lead," he was slow to disengage his hand.

The spot grew cold. She contemplated his chiseled jaw. "What about Michael?"

"What about him?"

"He's a part of our group. Will he be aware of your master plan?" She shouldn't care. Michael had been avoiding her since their latest kiss. Hell, it was more than that. He waged an all out battle on her defenses. Blew them away.

"Don't worry. I'll let him in on the joke," he slid a stray lock of her hair through his fingers. He walked away grinning. Michael Guerin was standing not four feet behind Maria. He had no idea what their exchange had been. From the red of his neck, Kyle could guess his mistaken train of thought. This was going well.

***

"Hey Michael," Alex was reviewing for a math quiz.

The quick tempered young Czechoslovakian slammed his book on the table. A few library patrons even shushed him. He dared them to try again with sullen eyes.

"Man, you look pissed."

Michael warred with himself. He had too much bottled inside. He couldn't wait to talk to Max. He was ready to explode. "It's Maria!"

Alex turned his own annoyed glare at the shushers. They looked away. "Calm down and start from the top."

With a very deep breath, Michael launched into the whole cookie ordeal. His point of view had some startling differences from Maria's. When he got to the events of the hallway only minutes earlier, his audience of one was open mouthed.

"Kyle and Maria?" Alex's eyebrows crossed in disgust and confusion. "I don't believe for a second she would be interested in him."

"It's all him," a storm brewed in Michael's dark gaze. "This would have never happened if we made chocolate cake."

"I am sooo lost now."

"The cookies!"

"Ah, the cookies ..." Alex could clear this up.

"Love cookies!" he was outraged. "Kyle doesn't care about her the way I ..."

Alex's eyes grew wide. Was Michael Guerin about to spill his guts? He saw the heavy curtain of self restraint fall into place. The guy just shut down.

"I've got to be somewhere else."

He watched Michael's retreating back. Well, well.

***

Michael stood tight lipped to her left side as Maria related the story behind Original Sin cookies. The class was riveted by her honeyed tone. Kyle moved through the group, passing out samples. She really did make it sound magical. There were oohs and ahs as the tasting began. He watched with distrust as the other boy returned to complete their threesome. Kyle rested his arm on Maria's shoulder.

He bristled as he tried to focus on reading the directions off of her handwritten notecard. "Combine the wet and dry ingredients with gentle strokes."

Kyle's fingers flitted over her bare neck. He saw Guerin flinch. He waited until he choked out the final steps. With a nod to Maria he addressed the room, eyes landing on Michael last. "If it hadn't been for these cookies, I never would have found my soulmate."

Maria was taken by surprise as he tipped her back and kiised her right in front of everyone. Then he was torn away from her, a certain hot head bulldozing him over the table. The grappling was halted by two of the stronger boys in the class.

Mrs. Preston lost her usual composure and was shrieking. "Stop it right this instant! Do you hear me, Mr. Guerin? Mr. Valenti?"

Michael struggled to extricate himself from Mark Stillman's grip. Maria stepped between them and fixed him with a quelling look. He saw Kyle smirk through a puffy lip. Frantic eyes went back to her face.

"An unfortunate side effect of this yummy treat is the jealousy factor. My partners have had a few too many cookies today. In conclusion, if you decide to try our recipe, please do so in moderation. One love at a time. A little goes a long way."

Believing it was a staged performance, the class began to clap. Mrs. Preston still waivered. Maria reached for Michael's hand, then Kyle's. She pulled them close for a bow. When they bent forward she seethed. "Outside. Statue. After class."

***

"You saved my ass," Kyle took Maria's hand.

She jerked it away. "You didn't tell him!"

He looked around to make sure Guerin wasn't sneaking up behind him. "Oops!"

"You got your A. Now beat it before he gets here."

"Thanks, Maria. It's been delightful," he snuck a quick smooch on her cheek.

She wiped the spot with the back of her hand. "Get lost, Stalker."

Michael's face was tight as he strode up moments later. He did anything to avoid her eyes. "What do you want?"

She tried to meet his gaze, but he kept shifting. "Look at me!"

"I have to meet Max."

She grabbed his chin, forcing him to see the puzzle in her baby blues. "What happened in there?"

"He did that just to get to me," he lashed out.

"You're right."

He was confused. Michael expected her to protect Valenti. "Come again?"

Her fingertips grazed his ear, causing an involuntary sigh. She looked at him with great interest as he tried to order his thoughts. "Kyle wanted you to react."

"Why?"

"That's a good question to ask yourself," she left him standing alone.

***

"I have nothing to say," Michael said in greeting as he climbed into the jeep.

Max nodded and put the vehicle in gear. He handed over a can of pop. "We'll just drive."

They left the small town behind. As the local vegetation faded, the arid lands surrounded them. The desert flora was stunning under the midday sun. He saw a cactus - arms out, sharp thorns. Kind of like him. Then he noticed something growing around it.

"Pull over."

Max parked on the side, a question dying on his lips. Michael walked with wonder towards one tall cactus. He crouched down, hand reaching out. It was another species.

The delicate ground cover had soft spiky threads. The color was a deeper shade of green, more vital than its larger companion. Bright pink flowers crowned the top of each tender plant.

"It's breathtaking," Max's voice startled him.

"It's her." There was a strange light in Michael's eyes.

"Who?"

"This is me," he pointed to the big cactus. Then his hand hovered over the base plants that enfold it. "This is Maria."

Max was glad Michael missed his look of confusion. He wasn't following the analogy. "Explain it to me."

"The one with the flowers wraps up around the other, even though its full of thorns."

"It also has thorns," Max pointed out.

"That's like fuzz. It doesn't hurt. It just reaches out and touches this one. She does that to me," his last sentence was barely audible.

***

Maria adjusted her apron. It had been a long frustrating day. Men. She couldn't make heads or tails of them. She munched on some leftover cookies. It wouldn't matter if she gained a few pounds.

"Would you stop?" Liz grabbed the box and tucked it under the counter.

"I was hoping the sugar rush would dull my aching heart," she deadpanned.

"Come on, Maria. It's not that bad."

"Easy for you to say! Max worships the ground you walk on," she dropped onto a stool.

Liz had the grace to blush. "I may sound like a broken record here, but things will get better. Soon."

"Not until table four gets their free refills," she rose to her feet.

The bell rang and Michael filled the doorframe. He stopped when he saw her. He noticed a smudge at the corner of her mouth. Then his eyes shot down to her hands. The last bite of her chocolate prize was clenched there.

Maria's shoulders went up at the sight of him. She was alarmed by his sudden smile. How dare he look so completely gorgeous! Her face softened and she felt her insides turn to goo.

He was standing in front of her. She blinked as if curious over when he had moved. His hand covered hers. "Can I have some of that?"

An electric pulse riccocheted through her body as he raised her fingers to his lips. Maria's eyes were glued to his mouth, his sensual, wonderful mouth. Her heart leaped into her throat. Nervous energy caused her to tremble.

"They don't really work you know," she managed. "It's all power of suggestion."

There was very little space separating them. "No. I can feel it. Right here."

He placed her hand on his chest. She could feel the rise and fall as he breathed. "Michael, please."

"Tell me what's in your heart, Maria."

She felt the hot tears. "You."

Two starving souls crashed together in a hungry kiss. He tasted her goodness. Her arms circled his neck as she gave herself over to hope and desire.

"Um ...guys?" Both of them turned to stare at Liz. She gave them a timid smile. "Crashdown. Customers. Any of this making sense?"

Michael was reluctant to let her go. "Can I see you later?"

"You can see me now," Maria tossed her headband on the counter. "Cover for me, Lizzie."

"Sure," huge brown eyes hinted an 'I told you so.'

They passed Max on the way out. He had been leaning against the jeep watching the scene unfold through the front window. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Thanks," Michael linked his hand with Maria's. They moved toward her car.

Goosebumps covered her skin as he leaned over to open her door. Another satisfying kiss passed between them. She was mystified. "What changed?"

He touched her face. "You grew on me."