CHAPTER 5
It wasn’t that Michael was in a hurry to leave or go anywhere from Vail. Being in the resort for a few days with Maria, wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Sure, he wanted to have a little fun with Max and possibly mend their friendship in the process, but more than anything he wanted to make sure Max understood how Michael felt about his newfound authoritative attitude. Their friendship was definitely strained and Michael had a lot of resentment towards Max, but he remained loyal and steadfast and always held his tongue when he questioned Max's 'orders'. Now Michael realized what a terrible decision that was so he was hoping to bring it up to Max at some point in Vegas.
Michael knew the many times he messed up and how Max just as loyally bailed him out, but there were moments where he felt like Max just wasn’t the same anymore. The whole I AM KING thing had really gone to his head, and sometimes Michael didn’t always agree with Max’s decisions. He honestly felt like Max's judgment was clouded. Was it because of Tess? Was she influencing him? What's more, why didn't Max ever tell Michael about whatever it was she was telling him?
Then again it was just a hunch. Maybe Max wasn't being influenced by Tess. However, as much as Michael rather brush the thought to the side he couldn't. He knew Tess was one of them, but something about her always made Michael be on extra guard.
Letting loose was something Michael didn’t just want to do, he needed to. He needed to release all the anguished feelings that had accumulated as of late. It had been hard. Realizing where his human side had come from, a man by the name of Charles Dupree that was abducted by Michael’s own people unwillingly was a tough pill to swallow. Finding out that he had a distant relative, a somewhat sort of sister, was another crazy surprise. And while attacking an alien jellyfish crystal monster and getting shot in the arm was not enough, he had managed to save the world all in one day as well.
Talk about needing to let loose!
But through it all, he had his Maria by his side. If she hadn’t been with him through it all it probably would’ve been impossible for Michael to tackle all of it on his own. She was such a great asset during such high stake incidents. The rest of the group didn't give her enough credit nor privileged enough to see this side of her. Their loss. Maria was magnificent in these ventures.
Michael decided to go to the travel and information desk at the lobby. He perused through some pamphlets and finally found a bus schedule. Maria and he could probably just fly back to Vegas or Roswell, wherever it was they wanted to go.
“Wait a minute. Where do we want to go?” Michael thought to himself as he closed the pamphlet.
Folding and placing it in his shirt pocket he went to one of the information desks that was manned by a very attractive lady. Unbeknownst to Michael, she had been checking him out the entire time he was there. Her red hair made the red lipstick on her lips look paler in comparison.
“Hey,” saluted Michael. The woman had just hung the phone down.
“Yes, Mr.?” she asked with a slight pause as she batted her eyelashes and shamelessly drank up Michael.
“It’s Doctor actually. Dr. Scott,” Michael beamed with a cocky smile. He would never get sick of saying that! Michael could tell from the woman’s reaction that she ate it right up! She would definitely be the go to person he went for information while they stayed here since she seemed so, forthcoming, for lack of a better word.
“I was wondering when the next bus would come here, either to leave to another city or perhaps an airport.”
“Oh my gosh! You didn’t hear? Have you been in your room in the past 15 minutes?”
Michael looked confused and shook his head. “No. Heard what?”
“The Winter storm advisory status turned from watch to warning. We’re expecting a huge downpour of snow tonight.”
“What? I know I’m in a Ski Resort that’s full of snow, so excuse my surprise,but…” Michael huffed motioning his hand for the lady to continue.
The lady smiled.
“Sometimes we have to use the imitation stuff, but we usually get a large amount of the real stuff here. It’s just this is a freak storm and a pretty dangerous one at that. At least that’s the information we have been getting. Potential blizzard,” she said shrugging her shoulders as she turned the computer screen towards Michael. The purple region over Colorado on the Doppler radar map, indicated a blizzard trail of snow. Michael frowned.
“Great,” Michael murmured under his breath clearly disappointed.
“But don’t worry Dr. Scott. We are always prepared!” the woman exclaimed trying to cheer Michael up. “We have amazing restaurants, chefs, and pristine service 24/7! We have great amenities like a gym, spa, and clinic with a real registered Nurse, and a Bikram Yoga studio! Our gift shops can’t be matched and we have fun indoor activities and areas, like the pool, indoor ice skating rink, and my favorite- the bath house with Jacuzzis,” she said lasciviously with a wink.
Michael tried to smile but he just couldn’t fake it. With a nod of acknowledgement, he went back to the elevators.
Maria was definitely going to love this, he thought sarcastically as he pushed the “up” button.
* * *
“What?” Maria exclaimed as she replayed the answering message on their suite room phone. “I can’t believe this!”
Maria turned her head to the sound of the door opening knowing it was Michael.
“Maria?”
“In here,” Maria called out as she plopped herself on the couch.
As Michael made his way into the living room, it was apparent to Maria that he was pretty annoyed. Michael was infuriated that Maria left without telling him exactly where she was going. Saying she was going to get a few items could’ve been anything and could’ve meant she went anywhere inside the resort given all the amenities the redhead at the information desk listed off. He didn’t like that Maria was keeping him in the dark, and he knew it stemmed from her feeling frustrated with him. While he agreed they were definitely irritated with each other, he didn’t like the fact that he was indirectly responsible for any potential threat against Maria.
Anything could’ve happened to her! Didn’t she know that? She needs to be more careful!
“Where were you?” Michael asked sternly, as he stood over Maria looking down at her on the couch.
“Michael did you hear? There’s a freak storm that’s keeping us stranded in Vail!” Maria cried crossing her arms ignoring Michael’s question.
“I know, I heard,” Michael replied letting out a sigh. “Looks like we are stuck here for a while.”
“Great,” Maria said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. She really wanted to take a shower, but she was hungry at the same time too. Ugh! Decisions, decisions.
“Trust me this isn’t what I wanted either,” Michael said scratching his eyebrow as he looked out to the snow studded night sky.
“Then why did you come?” Maria pressed.
“Because of you! I could tell as soon as Max talked to Liz that she was going to ditch you and you would be alone and I didn’t want you to be in danger!” Michael argued as he raised his hands in annoyance.
Maria was clearly offended. “What? You’re one to talk! Saying I love you and then avoiding me all summer, that’s ditching Michael! She wasn’t ditching me!”
Michael merely scoffed at Maria’s accusation with a grunt. This made Maria even madder!
“Liz has had a lot on her plate, you don’t even know!”
“I don’t care to know! Don’t you think it’s kind of messed up she left you there? I mean at least I came along.”
Maria threw her hands in there air in frustration. “I didn’t ask you to come Michael!” Maria enunciated as she got up from the couch.
“You know, just a fucking thank you would suffice,” Michael retorted.
Maria rolled her eyes. “Look Michael I don’t know how long we have to be stranded in this resort together, but I know we can agree on one thing. We don’t need to be near each other.”
“Fine,” Michael started as he got up too and close to Maria. “You know what? That’s probably the best idea you had all day.”
“Yeah, ok,” Maria said dismissively as she made her exit to the bedroom so she could take a long hot much needed shower to calm herself. Or maybe a relaxing bath would do the trick.
“I’m serious what kind of idiot goes on a bus without reading the sign.”
“Idiot huh? Well gee golly then, what do you call a person then that blindly follows the person that didn’t check the bus sign before getting on it in the first place?” howled Maria with her hands on her hips.
Michael began to open and close his mouth a few times dumbfounded, unable to find a proper comeback. Maria’s lips curled into a playfully malicious smile. Crossing her arms she waited for comeback, and just before she decided he threw in the towel, and was about to continue on her way to the bedroom…
“Well at least I’m not the one idiotic enough to believe that I could be discovered at a Vegas supper club and become a famous singer!”
Maria stopped in her tracks. Her back facing Michael’s. Michael swallowed in nervousness. As soon as the stinging words left his lips he wish he could’ve taken it back but it was too late now. He should’ve never have said it.
Maria didn’t turn her head back, nor give a retort. She didn’t want Michael to see the shock mixed with immense sadness in her face. Closing her eyes, and squeezing them tight, she tried her best not to let the tears flow. She couldn’t even speak, she was so burned by his words, and Michael winced knowing what he had said caused major damage.
“Maria,” Michael started as he came up behind her grabbing her arms. Maria freed herself from his grasp by slowly turning and taking a step back, now standing at the threshold of where the bedroom began.
“You’re right Michael, I am the idiot here,” she said shaking her head with a sad smile. “I have been there for you so much Michael, so much.” Her voice was shaky. To stop her hands from trembling she placed them in her jean pockets so she could finish saying what was on her mind. All of the things, she had held in for so long.
“No Maria, you’re not I’m the one—“
“You just don’t really need me except when it comes to my car, my money, or just someone to make out with."
Is that what she thinks of me? Some horny jack ass?
"The joke really is on me Michael. I am the idiot.”
“Maria—“
But before Michael could finish his sentence, Maria slid the double doors in Michael’s face.
Maria took a few steps away from the doors, realizing that on the other side, contained all her happiness and sorrow in one person. How one person could do that, baffled her and scared her at the same time. Bringing her finger tips up to her lips to stifle her cries, tears relentlessly pouring down her cheeks, she went to the shower, hoping to wash away the scene.
* * *
Michael could hear the shower turn on immediately after Maria went inside. He could open the doors with his powers but what was the point? Nothing he could say right now could rectify the sadness he had caused in those beautiful green eyes. Cursing himself he punched the wall with side of his fist, briskly picked up his jacket and headed out for the door. He needed to clear his head, and find a way to make things better with Maria.
Michael went in the elevator and hit the lobby button. Hopefully there would be something down there to keep his mind busy while not having to run into that annoying red-head again. As he perused around, he saw a couple of gift shops, restaurants, and to his elation a bar. Perhaps he could sit down, grab a soda maybe even a meal. The barstools reminded him of the red ones at the CrashDown.
As he took a seat at the bar, he noticed the shelves, endlessly filled with bottles and bottles of whiskey. It was definitely taking him back to another time. A time before he met Maria. A much sadder time. A-Drunk-Hank-sleeping-on-the-couch time.
With a sigh, Michael decided to sit at the bar and grab a drink. The bartender looked at Michael, noticed his silver rings.
“Married?”
Michael nodded. Married. That was the story he invented. Not Maria, he did. That said something...
“Well, what will it be sir?”
Michael shrugged, looking lost at all the bottles. “How about just a coke to start with for now?”
The bartender smiled, nodded his head and went off to get a glass.
“Not much of a drinker eh?” said an unfamiliar voice.
Michael looked over to find a familiar man. The same man that was on the bus. Great I have to put the charming act on again.
“Depends on the mood I guess,” Michael replied with a slight smirk, applauding himself for sounding very convincing. There was no way that he would ever touch the alcohol stuff after seeing Max’s fiasco on Liz’s Blind Date Night. They really didn’t need a repeat of that.
The older man nodded. “I never really drank a lot. Maybe like special holidays some cognac.”
The bartender came to Michael with his order of coke. Saying a thank you, Michael took a sip, and wished right then and there that he had some tabasco on him.
“Where’s your sweetheart?”
Sweetheart? Of course. Maria.
“Um, she’s back in the room.”
“Ah. Relaxing?”
“Yeah she likes….um bubble baths,” Michael replied as he took another sip of his coke almost choking on it as a vision of Maria, naked in a lavender scented bubble bath came into view. Michael shook his head a couple of times, hoping to get composure of himself before he lost it at the bar.
“Yeah Luann’s making all these appointments at the spa, especially since the outdoor activities are at a halt due to the so-called blizzard,” the older man informed as he rolled his eyes taking a sip of his own drink.
“How long do you think this is going to last—uh, sorry, I forgot your name,” Michael said apologetically.
The older man held a hand up. “Don’t worry. Forgot yours too. Name’s Wayne,” he replied as he held out his hand.
Michael gave his hand a firm shake. “Matthew,” Michael replied.
“Matthew. Good solid name.”
Michael nodded a thanks.
“Well to answer your questions Matthew, I’ve been to this resort every year and usually when severe weather hits, it tends to last longer than a day or two.”
“A day or two!” Michael exclaimed frustratingly. He wanted to get the hell out of Vail and back to Roswell as soon as possible. Or whatever Maria wanted to do...
“What’s the big deal? You’re newly married! You and your sweetheart get a lot of alone time! All to yourselves!” Wayne exclaimed cracking up as he gave Michael a wink.
Michael didn’t say anything. He looked away quickly and took a sip of his drink pondering what to do during their extended stay given Maria was mad and not talking to him.
“What’s up? You got that pensive look on your face.”
Michael looked at him confusingly.
“Yup. I knew it. From the moment you sat down, I just knew something wasn’t right! You and your sweetheart are fighting, aren’t you?”
“No, I mean….” Michael just shrugged and slumped in his seat. He felt defeated in every way Michael had filled his quota of getting unwanted input on his relationship that year from older men. First Hal and now Wayne. Geeze! When was he going to catch a break?
Wayne slapped his thigh in elation when Michael’s hesitance pretty much confirmed his notions were spot on! “Has to be a fight! Newly married and you’re down here, and she’s up there,” Wayne said shaking his head.
Michael refused to reply in an effort to not confirm nor deny Wayne’s remarks, hoping that he would take the hint and change the subject. But Wayne wasn’t going to move on that easily.
“So Matthew, what’d you do?”
“Hey how do you know if it was my fault?” Michael asked very defensively.
“It’s always our fault, haven’t you learned that?”
“Sounds like you're just assuming things about me Wayne.”
“No not at all. It’s pretty transparent, if you ask me.”
Well no one asked you old man.
“So is that why you’re down here Wayne? You and Luann had a little argument right.” Michael said daringly.
“No way! At this age we can afford to be separated without it being called for scrutiny. We aren’t newly wedded or nothing!”
“So when you and Luann were younger you never stayed a part?”
“Hell no! Luann gives me the silent treatment and I give her space when she’s mad at me. It’s been like that ever since we got together. Truth is I probably did something that ticked her off. Sometimes unknowingly, other times, knowingly.”
Michael began to play around with his rings, twisting one of them out of nervousness.
“What did you do to get back on her good side?” asked Michael.
Wayne looked over at the younger man who reminded him a lot of himself when he was younger. Brash, direct, and stubborn as hell. But he also appeared to be caring, passionate, and loyal without a fault, traits that Luann expressed she found in Wayne that made her love him so.
“After I gave her some space, I would try to mediate things by doing something special. Nothing big or fancy, just Wayne-like things. Flowers, organize a night out to eat, plan a movie night indoors with some candles. It doesn’t take much to show someone you care about them, it’s just we forget to make those little efforts, and when we do they can cause even bigger problems.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to learn that the hard way.”
Wayne nodded. "It's always hard. You know what would really make it all better quickly. Just talking. I know! Sounds so simple. Don't give me that look Michael, take me seriously here. You want to get on your sweetheart's good side. Talk."
Michael scratched his eyebrow. "It does sound simple, but for me it's hard. Talking is not my forte. That's Mari- um Madison's. She's good at talking."
“Well, what did your dad do to show your mom he appreciated her?”
Michael gulped. Hank wasn’t much of a role model. “My father, well my foster father was pretty much an alcoholic. His girlfriend was the only mother figure I ever had. After a few months she pretty much left his ass. Left me too.”
Wayne rubbed his face with a sad look. “Sorry son, I didn’t know.”
Michael smiled to show his forgiveness. “It’s ok, don’t worry about it,” he replied softly as he took another sip of his coke.
“She was pretty nice to me,” Michael said, trying his best to continue, “But he was just—I don’t want to go back. Let’s just say his behavior pretty much drove her away.”
Wayne nodded, making Michael feel relieved he didn’t have to divulge anymore of his painful past to him.
“Does your girl know what you have been through?”
Michael nodded. “Not all the details, but she understands.”
“That’s good. See, she gets you,” Wayne said as he pointed to his head and then to Michael’s. “It’s not always easy to find someone that can understand you without even talking. Even more if you find someone that understands and can accept that part of you too.”
Michael’s heart swelled at the thought of Maria. Especially that one rainy night, when after ignoring Maria for days on end she still gave him comfort and took care of him. She dried him up, tucked him into bed, and didn’t need any explanation. She was there for him, and she always would be.
“It’s a rare thing, and a lucky thing at that when you and your woman can communicate without saying a word,” Wayne said as if he was reading Michael’s mind. Michael nodded, as Wayne smiled in return pleased his instincts about Michael and his girl seemed to be pretty accurate.
“Sometimes I think she could do better, you know.”
“Hell they all could do better! Men are complete idiots,” Wayne said with a chuckle making Michael laugh as well.
“Yeah we sure are aren’t we?” Michael said in agreement nodding his head.
“Think about how much women put up with when it comes to us. Just think about how much your girl puts up with you,” Wayne said as he tapped Michael’s shoulder jokingly.
Maria put up with a lot. His alien adventures and pursuits always came first. Maria would complain, whine and cry, when she didn’t get enough of “Michael time”, or his attention, but it was only because she loved him. Loved spending her day, her time, and heart with him, and only him. Michael began to realize what an idiot he had been. Maria needed him, and he knew that no matter how much he tried to put up a stonewall it would come to no avail. Maria would easily break them down. Because the truth was, Michael needed her too.
“I should go,” Michael said standing up abruptly. He needed to go upstairs and make things right with Maria.
Wayne nodded with a smile, understanding where Michael’s motives were headed. Michael stuck his hand out to shake Wayne’s.
“It was nice meeting you Wayne.”
“Pleasure’s all mine Matthew. Go check on that girl. Make her know that you would do anything for her.”
Michael nodded, his lips curling up as he turned to walk out of the bar.
A couple minutes later another figure entered the bar, venturing their way over to Wayne.
“How long you’ve down here?” asked Luann as she took her seat next to Wayne.
He shrugged in response and kissed her on the cheek. “Long enough.”
“Well I hope you don’t mind, but I got us a reservation at a fancier restaurant in the resort then this. Wanna head on over?”
“Sure,” Wayne said as he left some cash at the table.
As Luann hooked onto his arm, and they left together she asked him what he had been up to while she was away. Wayne simply smiled.
“Revisiting our past,” he replied. Luann smiled. “We’ve been through a lot,” he said.
“Well you’ve put me through a lot!” Luann said half- jokingly as she patted his arm. Wayne smiled nodding his head admitting she was right. But hopefully the young man he had just met, will take his advice to heart and not put his own wife through the same grief. Perhaps he would learn sooner than later to cherish this love because finding it can be so rare, as Wayne had learned and appreciated all these past years with Luann.
TBC...