Title: After the End
Rating: Teen
Pairing: Michael and Maria, little bit of Liz and Max too.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Belong to Katims and Metz.
Summary: What happens after they pile into the van together? My take on after Graduation.
“I am 18 years old and on the run from the law.” Maria wrote on the first page of her journal. She had tried to just get over the injustices in her life but they were proving too powerful to be forgotten. She kept writing. “To my left, my ex-boyfriend is sleeping soundly against the back window of the beat up van we are traveling in. Which is so annoying because I haven’t been able to sleep well since we left. The first couple of weeks were pretty scary, we didn’t know if the FBI was going to catch us or if they were even following us. Things have calmed down on that front for now. In front of me Kyle is sitting jabbering on about Buddha and how we must find calm within ourselves or something Karate Kid-ish. He has been surprisingly entertaining on this trip/adventure or whatever you call an unending drive across the good old U-S of A. Isabel has been staring out the window next to Kyle for hours, I can see the sadness on her face. I didn’t know Jesse that well, but I do know that she loves him and misses him so much that she can barely eat or sleep.”
Maria looked at Isabel while she was writing this, she understood her pain. Even though Michael was right next to her physically, mentally and emotionally they were light years apart. He told her that she was the only girl for him and then this brick wall went up around him again, she didn’t know if this time she could break it down. Or if she even wanted to try.
Maria looked back down to the leather bound journal she had purchased from a hippie on a street corner when they drove through San Francisco. She continued writing. “The only happy people in the car are Max and Liz, they got married a couple months ago and it was the best day. She was so happy, like unearthly happy. We spent a couple hours looking for a dress in this small town in Montana and ended up finding the sweetest white off the shoulder number. She had never been surer about anything in her life than marrying Max. He had already asked her to marry him before we left Roswell but then all this ‘we might die business’ happened and I don’t know if either one of them had brought it up. So he re-asked her on a Tuesday, I remember because I was complaining all day about missing my TV show that night.”
--
A Monday, a couple months ago.
Max was driving; he had been driving for a couple hours now. Everyone else was still asleep. Liz was resting her head on his shoulder. The scenery was beautiful in this part of the country. They had just entered into Montana, the trees were so tall. A much different landscape than Roswell. The summer seemed to last forever, they were well into September and the weather was still warm. Max had planned to propose to Liz on the same day he saved her in the Crashdown. He had been carrying the band he had bought for Liz’s diamond in his pocket for weeks now waiting for the day to come when he could ask her to be his. Officially.
He had called around and found a cabin to rent in the mountains, it was remote and cheap. They all needed a little break anyway. They were all coping rather well for being in such a confined space for so long. Even Michael was behaving himself.
The band was platinum and inside he had engraved a message to her. He had thought over and over how he was going to ask her and what she would say. He hoped that she wouldn’t think it was completely irrational. It was one thing to agree to marry when your life is at stake and a completely different situation when you have the whole rest of it ahead of you.
They arrived in Gates a little after 10pm and started up the mountain road to the cabin, the man on the phone said that they would only be able to drive so far before hiking to the cabin. “This place better not be a dump Max.” Isabel said from the backseat. “I hope it isn’t too Isabel, the guy on the phone said he would even take the pigs out while we are there.” Max smiled. Freaking out Isabel was still one of his favorite pastimes. “You’re kidding right? I am not staying anywhere with pigs.” Isabel panicked in the back seat until Max started to chuckle. “Ugh, I hate you.” She said while smacking the back of her brother’s head.
They arrived at the small cabin after 11pm on foot. The short hike had taken about 20 minutes. They couldn’t tell their surrounding completely since it was dark so they had decided they would take watch until day break. Tomorrow was the day that Max had decided to re-propose, he took the first shift so he could get a good night’s sleep or at least try. Liz was after him, then Kyle, Isabel, Maria and then finally Michael. The cabin was sparse but livable. There were two small rooms and one open room with a fireplace and small kitchen area.
“Max?” Isabel yelled to him outside. “What?” He hollered back inside. “Where is the bathroom?” Isabel had discovered that there was not an indoor toilet or shower. “Uh, Is I forgot to mention that the bathroom and shower are outside. Isn’t that cool?” Max tried to sugar coat the bad news as much as possible. Isabel walked out onto the porch of the cabin. “This is not acceptable but I am too tired to fight right now. Where is the outhouse?” Max pointed out and around the cabin. She gave him a dirty look and clicked the flashlight on and walked away.
Max and Liz took their shifts without incident. Kyle fell asleep and off the rocking chair on the porch scaring the crap out of himself. Isabel kept herself awake by listening to many terrifying animal noises until she figured out it was the wind combined with Kyle’s snoring. She went inside and woke up Maria from the common room of the cabin where she had fallen asleep. “Maria, it’s time to switch” She whispered carefully trying not to wake up the others. Maria slowly opened one eye and then got up to switch. “Night Izzie.” She whispered before walking outdoors.
Maria didn’t mind being alone, it gave her time to think. They spent so much time in the van together that any moment alone felt like a retreat. She sat on the rocking chair staring out into the slightly lit woods. The sun would be coming up soon.
Maria watched as the sun came up over the mountain in front of her, she walked out a little ways to get a better view. The mountains looked like a calendar or some mural in a church basement, so real that they looked fake. She walked back to the porch just as Michael was walking out. “Hey.” He said with sleep still in his voice. “Hey.” She said back. Something was going on between them and she had no idea what it was. He had told her that he loved her but now it was as if they were barely friends. “I’m going to get some sleep.” She said walking in the cabin.
This had been one of their longer conversations.
Everyone in the cabin was up by 8 or so, the life on the road had ended any illusions of sleeping until noon like they used to. “So who’s up for a shower?” Kyle questioned the group. “I don’t exactly think it’s a group effort.” Isabel returned. “If you want hot water it is” He explained. “Oh, well Maria and I can go together.” Isabel suggested. “We’re what?” Maria asked walking into the small kitchen area where everyone had congregated. “We’re showering together” Was all Isabel said. “Okay.” Maria said without needing any further explanation. “Do we have anything to drink, I’m parched. And this place doesn’t have a TV; we need to go into town or something. I am not about to miss my show because Montanans don’t believe in technology.” Everyone chuckled at Maria.
In order to have a warm shower they needed to carry buckets out to the shower and pour them over each other. Not exactly the Ritz. Or even a HoJo for that matter. Isabel lathered up, “Okay Maria I am ready to rinse.” Maria hefted the bucket up as high as she could and poured it over Isabel. The girls laughed the whole time at the complete ridiculousness of the situation. Maria then stopped half way through. “Hey, can’t you just make the water coming out here warm with your powers?” Isabel looked as if a light bulb just went off above her head. “Why didn’t we think of that before we carried those 800 pound buckets out here?” She said laughing. They finished their showers easily with the new system. “I don’t think I am going to tell Max about this little epiphany of yours.” Isabel said as they walked back to cabin in their towels. “I won’t tell if you won’t.” Maria retorted as they walked in.
Maria walked to one of the bedrooms to get dressed. She bumped into Michael almost dropping the towel around her. They stood there for maybe five seconds looking at one another. The heat was still there. At least she had that to hold on to.
Liz carried her clothes and shampoo down to the small lake deciding to rinse off down there than have to freeze in the outdoor shower. She undressed and slowly got in. The water felt amazing; she couldn’t remember the last time she had been swimming. She was startled when she heard a voice. She turned to see it was Max.
“Having fun?” He asked.
She smiled and answered. “Yes, the water is really nice.”
Max moved closer to the water. “Is it now?” Taking off his shirt.
“Do not come in here Max; I don’t have any clothes on.” She squealed pointing a finger at him.
“I won’t look, I promise. Scouts honor.” He said while holding up the Vulcan greeting.
Liz laughed at him. “That is not the Boy Scouts symbol.”
“Oh, it’s not?” Max played dumb. “So can I come in?”
“Seriously Max. I don’t have anything on.” Liz was starting to get nervous. They had seen parts of each other but never the whole deal.
Max walked closer and closer until his shoes were starting to get wet. Liz paddled further away and turned around so that he couldn’t see the front of her. “Max, I am going to kill you if you-” The splash she heard confirmed that it was too late. He was in the water.
“Liz Parker.” Max swam closer to her.
She turned around to see Max just a few feet in front of her. “Yes.” She said while still covering her top half. “Come over here.” He said calmly, trying so hard to quiet the nerves in his voice. She walked slowly over to him, the sand at the bottom of the lake squishing between her toes. He grabbed her arms from her and placed them around his neck keeping eye contact the whole time. “Max.” Liz said unsurely. He pulled her up to his height and kissed her sweetly. The anxiety in her chest was starting to build.
“I love you.” And for some reason, it seemed like the first time he had ever said that. “Three years ago I got the courage to finally talk to you, and since then my life hasn’t been the same. I know you’ll argue that using my powers is what set this all off but I know in my heart that everything I am is because that day in the Crash Down I saw you, the whole you. And I knew that was it for me. I don’t know where we’ll live or what we’ll do but I guarantee that it won’t be normal, it won’t be boring, and that I will love you with everything that I am as long as I live-this planet or any other.” He brought his hands up to hers behind his neck and started to slide a ring on her finger.
“I want to ask you again, with it just being you and me, and nothing else in the world. Will you marry me?”
Liz pulled her hands down from around his neck to see the diamond he gave her placed in a ring. She looked solemnly down at her finger and smiled. This was the second time that Max Evans had asked her to be his wife and for the second time her answer was “Yes.” Max grinned from ear to ear and picked her up and kissed her with all the happiness he was feeling. Neither one of them felt the need to leave that lake for the rest of their lives.
Maria looked down from the cliff to see Max and Liz playing the water. She was envious of the closeness they had. She wanted that for herself with Michael but he was obviously not interested anymore. She tried talking him into it, she tried ignoring him, she tried being mad and now she was just hopeless. They shared this connection or at least she thought they did but he was always so quick to walk away. Maria knew that she didn’t need another man in her life that was good at leaving.
Michael and Kyle were playing poker inside the cabin when Max came walking in with the hugest smile on his face. “What’s up with you?” Kyle asked. “Liz and I are getting married.” Michael didn’t even bother to look up from his hand. “Duh, old news Maxwell.” Max walked over to the two of them. “No, I asked her again because we hadn’t talked about it or anything or she said yes. We’re getting married tomorrow.” Kyle stood and gave him a small man hug involving a couple of back pats. “Congratulations man-that’s awesome.” Michael looked shocked, sure he knew that they were going to eventually but this was so soon. “Yeah, congratulations. Now you can be officially the sappiest couple in the world.” Michael said to Max through a sarcastic smile. Typical Michael.
Liz found Maria in the woods leaning up against a tree. “Hey, whatcha doing?” Liz asked. “Not a whole lot, just contemplating my pathetic life. How about you? You and Max looked pretty cozy in the water.” Liz blushed slightly at Maria’s remark.
“Well, Max asked me to marry him and I said yes!” Liz squealed. Maria’s face lit up. They had long talks about if he meant what he said that night on the balcony or if it was just wishful thinking. Maria jumped to her feet and grabbed Liz’s hands. “You’re getting married! You’re getting married! Oh my God, when? Or how? Or what did you guys decide?” Maria was talking a mile a minute. Liz laughed, she felt like the luckiest girl in the world. “We‘re going to get married tomorrow. Max said there is a chapel near here that we can go to. He already called the minister and everything.” Liz gloated. “Well, wasn’t he counting his chickens before they hatched.” Maria joked. “We need to get into town then and get you a dress. And maybe watch my show a little?” Maria snuck that last part in for herself.
The drive into town was filled with wedding talk. “Do you want a long dress? White or off white or cream or champagne colored? And how are you going to do your hair? Up, half up or down? And what is Max going to wear?” Maria fired the questions as fast as she could. “Definitely white, and I think I’ll wear it down. Go for that kind of natural look. And who knows what we are even going to find there. I might have to wear a polyester jumpsuit.” Liz said. Isabel perked up. “If we can find something remotely nice I can fix it up. You’re going to look beautiful no matter what. And we should get a suit for Max. So he doesn’t look completely homeless.”
Liz turned halfway in the passenger seat so she could see both Maria and Isabel. “Will you guys be my bridesmaids?” Liz asked. “Well, you don’t really have a choice.” Maria said out of the side of her mouth. “Shut up” Liz joked. “If I had all the girls in the world to choose to be with me when I get married it would be you two.” And Liz meant it. These were her best girlfriends; she knew that whatever she went through that they would be there with her. “Of course we will.” Isabel said turning to look at Maria in the backseat of the van. “Oh sweetness, then I can get something new too.” Maria jiggled in the backseat with excitement.
Back at the cabin, Kyle was taking a nap on the floor of the main room while Max and Michael went face to face at cards. “So you’re really going to do it huh?” Michael asked. Max answered with all the confidence in the world. “Yes I am. Are you scared for me Michael?” Michael laid down his cards. “Full house.” Max smiled and laid down his cards. “Royal Flush.” Michael threw his hands up in the air. “Why should I even try?” He tried to sound like he was kidding but Max knew that he wasn’t. “What’s going on Michael?” Max asked. “I don’t know Maxwell, I just don’t know what to do anymore.”
Michael stood up and paced the room. Max looked at him. “Michael, I am going to say something but don’t get mad and fly off the handle. I think that you were trying to get us out of Roswell for so long to keep us safe and now that happened and you don’t know what to do.” Michael looked at Max and he knew he was right. “What about Maria, Michael?” Max knew this was a sensitive subject but he had to ask, something was different with them. Maria wasn’t even arguing with Michael anymore. “What about Maria –Max? Michael asked accusingly. “You two haven’t been talking as much is all....” Max said trying to avoid the eruption that he knew was brewing in Michael. But instead of yelling or reacting at all Michael simply walked out of the cabin. And that scared the hell out of Max.
The girls parked the van and started to walk the main street of this little town. “Jackpot!” Maria yelled as she pulled open the doors of a consignment shop, she walked directly back to a tall rack of dresses. There was absolutely nothing that could even be manipulated into anything nice.
Isabel called Liz over and held up a really beautiful white peasant top and a skirt to match. “It’s perfect Isabel! Maria come look at this.” Liz called over to Maria who was knee deep in men’s suits. She ran over holding a plain black suit and a white shirt. “They don’t have any ties. But they’re overrated anyway.” Maria said. Liz then held up the outfit Is had found. Maria dropped the suit and grabbed the outfit. “This is perfect, it’s so ‘I am marrying a Czechoslovakian in a chapel in the woods.’ What a find. Nice one Is.” Isabel did a little curtsy. They purchased their new duds and walked to a café on the corner.
Maria asked for a TV so she could delve into her guilty pleasure. “I can’t believe you are so into that Maria, it’s so mainstream.” Isabel told Maria. Maria turned around as soon as the commercial started. “Look, when you date Michael Guerin you need to find some other things to do with your time. He wasn’t huge on the ‘let’s go out’ front.” Isabel nodded, she knew all too well Michael’s tendencies.
While Maria was watching her show, Isabel and Liz got some time to talk. “So we’re going to be like sisters sort of.” Isabel said. “Yeah I suppose we will be, is that weird?” Liz asked a little unsure if she wanted to hear the answer or not. Isabel thought about it for a second. “No, I mean at first when Max saved you at the Crash Down I was so worried. And not just about getting found out but that there was this other person in his life that he needed as much as me.” Liz smiled at Isabel’s honesty. “I thought the same thing. You two are so close that I didn’t know if you’d let me be with him.” Isabel and Liz laughed at how ridiculous it all sounds now.
“Oh…my…God.” Maria was sitting mere inches from the TV screen. “What?” Liz asked. “Pacey just said the sweetest thing ever. Why can’t life be like TV?” She asked. “It can be.” Liz said wistfully. Maria looked at Isabel and rolled her eyes. Isabel and Maria hadn’t been quite as lucky in love as Liz had and it showed.
“I think about Jesse every second of the day.” Isabel blurted out. “I can’t stop myself. I try and forget how I felt with him but it just doesn’t work.” Her eyes started to tear up. Maria walked back over to the booth they had been occupying. “I’m so sorry Isabel; I can’t even imagine what you’re feeling.” Liz calmly said. Maria placed her hand on top of Isabel’s; she was now crying full out. “It’s just so unfair. We only had such a short time and then I told him not to come. How could I do that?” Isabel cried into Maria’s shoulder. “You did what was best for him Isabel; you didn’t want to put him in danger.” Maria said. “But…but you came with us.” Isabel whimpered.
Isabel was right; Jesse and Maria weren’t any different. They had no powers. No real reason to be running from the law. Even Michael said she didn’t need to come with them. “I know Is, I shouldn’t really be here either.” Maria knew that was the truth, she continued on. “I should have stayed; I should have let him be alone. I should have let him go.” The tears in Maria’s eyes came fast. “No Maria, I didn’t mean to say that you shouldn’t be here.” Isabel said touching Maria’s hand. “But I shouldn’t Isabel; he doesn’t even want me here. Got look at me, I’m a mess. Sorry Is, you should get to be with him.” Isabel shook her head. “I don’t know if I should, if I really loved him would I have told him to stay?” Isabel laid her head on the table. The question lingering in the air.
Isabel let this last bit off her chest and instantly felt relieved. She had been carrying around this guilt for so long. Liz picked Isabel’s chin up off the table. “You did the right thing. At the time, with all the insanity you did the right thing. And this doesn’t have to be forever. Just keep holding onto the future, hold onto getting to see him again.” Liz’s optimism was unparallel.
The café door opened and in walked Max, Michael, and Kyle. Isabel and Maria immediately stood up and walked to the bathroom. The boys walked up to the booth confused. “What are you guys doing here?” Liz asked. “We got hungry for some real food and decided to journey down here. What’s up with them?” Max asked pointing towards the bathroom. “Uh, nothing. Just...nothing.” Liz turned her attention to the TV. The guys sat down and ordered some food. Michael couldn’t help but devote all his attention to the bathroom door.
Ten minutes had passed and Isabel and Maria still hadn’t returned from the bathroom. Liz got up to check on them. Just as she was getting to the door she heard a loud banging and yelling. “Well, what the hell am I supposed to do!” Maria yelled. The rest of their party got up and ran to the bathroom, Liz opened the door to find Maria and Isabel drenched from head to toe and the sink lying on the floor, the exposed pipe soaking them. Neither one said a word and walked out of the bathroom, out of the diner and back to the van.
That night on the way back to the cabin, the van was silent. Isabel felt so sad and missed Jesse, Liz felt guilty for being so happy, Maria was confused as to why she was even there. Michael couldn’t help thinking that he was only happy when everyone one else was sad, Max was envisioning what tomorrow would be like, and Kyle was silent just because no one else was talking.
The quiet amongst the group lingered into the cabin. Maria offered the bed to Isabel so she could get some rest. She would sleep in the common room with the boys. Max and Liz shared the other bed. “You sleeping out here Deluca?” Kyle asked. “Yeah, Isabel isn’t feeling very well so I gave her the bed.” Maria answered carrying a pillow out to the large living room. She laid her pillow down not too far from Kyle. Michael was in the other corner of the room. After the day she had she wanted to be as far from him as possible.
Maria woke up in the middle of the night, she heard someone opening the door. She slid one of her eyes open and saw that it was someone leaving. Kyle was still by her. She sat up and looked across the room. Michael was gone. She wrapped her blanket around herself and walked out onto the porch. “You okay?” She asked still half asleep. “What? Oh yeah I’m fine. I just have a lot of stuff on my mind.” Michael said. “Anything I can help with?” Michael looked over to Maria wanting so badly to answer her question. To tell her that he was sorry and was having a hard time coping. But instead, he simply said. “No, you should go back in.” And with that Maria started to give up on Michael.
Wedding Day
Liz woke up in Max’s arms. She was surprised that she was able to sleep at all. Max was already awake waiting for her to wake up. “Hi” She said. “Good Morning.” He said sweetly. If this wasn’t heaven than it was something awfully close.
The early morning dew was just starting to dry off the grass. Isabel had gotten up early and stood under the shower trying to wake up from this funk she had been in. She had tried to dream walk Jesse but it was too painful, he was always searching in his dreams. Isabel knew all too well he was looking for her and that helpless feeling broke her heart.
Maria woke up with Kyle’s face pressed into her back. “Kyle-wake up.” Maria shook him to wake him up. He slowly started to move. “Kyle!” Maria said sharply. “I’m up, I’m up, geez! What’s going on?” Kyle asked sitting up next to Maria. “Nothing, your 400 pound head was on me.” Maria explained. Kyle, the ever playful one moved closer to Maria and continued on with a Southern accent. “Oh darlin’, what ever do you mean? I want you, I need you, and I have to have you!” Kyle said while clutching Maria jokingly. For the first time in awhile Maria laughed a really hard belly laugh.
Michael walked into the cabin just in time to see them. The anger immediately built up in him, he didn’t know how to make Maria happy but he couldn’t bear to see anyone else trying. Kyle stopped as soon as he saw Michael. He then casually put his arm around her. “Quit looking at my woman.” He said in a country drawl. Michael just walked by both of them into the kitchen. Maria flung Kyle’s arm off of her and stood to walk out of the room. “Sorry, I was just joking around.” Kyle said. Maria nodded her head as she walked away.
The cabin was buzzing with energy that morning. Liz, Maria, and Isabel had been holed up in one of the bedrooms getting ready for the big day. Kyle drove Michael and Max over to the chapel and then was going to come back for the girls. Isabel had altered Liz’s top and skirt so that it would hug in just the right places. “Are you going to do anything with your hair?” Isabel asked. “I was thinking of just leaving it natural…” Liz answered. “Let’s give it just a little help.” Isabel waved her hand over Liz’s hair and gave her a little more volume and a few wavy strands. “Very cute.” The girls were ready, Kyle had come back to drive them to the chapel.
Kyle waited in the van for the girls; they came walking down the hill to where he could see them. Liz looked beautiful. They got in the van and he didn’t say anything. “Doesn’t she look nice Kyle?” Maria asked bluntly. “Uh, uh yeah.” He said and turned to look directly at her. “You look really beautiful Liz. Max is a lucky guy. Now let’s get moving” With that he started up the van and drove them to the chapel.
The small chapel was bathed in a rainbow of colors from the stained glass windows. The mahogany pews and floors smelt of lemons. Max and Michael were standing inside speaking with the minister. Max wanted the marriage to be official but changed their pertinent information on the marriage license so they could not be tracked. They would leave directly from the chapel to avoid any chance they would be followed.
Kyle stopped the van outside the chapel door. Liz looked to Maria. “This is it.” Liz said shaking off any late nerves she had. Maria opened the door, she and Isabel stepped out and each one took Liz’s hands to help her out. The bright sunshine against Liz’s white ensemble made her glow. Maria and Isabel went inside to stand with Max and Michael. Kyle held back for a moment. “Liz.” Kyle said. “Yeah?” She replied. Kyle looked at her like a proud father. “I’m glad you two found each other, even though you had to break up with me for it.” He said with a slight chuckle and walked inside. Liz gave herself a moment to capture all the details she could so this memory would be clear in her mind. The smell of the pine trees, the bird that was making an awful noise, the sound of the piano starting to play inside the chapel. She froze it in her memory.
Max was standing at the end of the aisle waiting for Liz to come in. Maria had just started playing the piano. He was so excited to see her, to see her walk towards him to start their life together. He looked at Michael and Kyle standing next to him.
Max turned back forward and there she was, all in white. She looked like an angel, the multi-colored lights of the stained glass window danced over her. She was smiling that smile that was only for him. Then she walked towards him to become Mrs. Liz Evans.
--
Present day, back in the van.
Maria looked out the window of the van smiling remembering that day. She continued on in her journal. “That day in the church my best friend Liz Parker married an alien. They said their I do’s and promised to love each other forever. They looked deep into each others eyes as they said their vows. It was pretty intense. After the wedding we left Montana and drove east ending up in a bar off the highway somewhere in North Dakota. We danced like crazy that night. Even Michael danced with all of us-believe it or not. In one way we were celebrating Max and Liz getting married but in another we were celebrating that we could have lives, we could fall in love and some things can be normal. We slept outside in a field that night. I waited for Michael to come to me like the pathetic fool that I am, but he didn’t come. I lay awake for half the night in that field staring at the stars and dreaming of a day when I would be happy again.”
Maria shut her journal and closed her eyes. The van was quiet that day. Some days it was loud with conversation and laughter but today was almost silent. You could see that everyone was working something out in their head.
“Pit stop!” Max called out into the back of the van. “Thank God, I have to use the bathroom.” Isabel said as politely as she could. They had become increasingly more comfortable with each other. Kyle and Isabel popped out of the van. Michael tried to sneak past Maria who had fallen asleep but woke her instead. “Sorry. We’re stopping.” He explained. “Oh okay, I need to stretch anyway.” She got out of the van. The sun blinding her, the annoyingly nice breeze blowing past her.
Maria walked over to wait for the bathroom; Michael was waiting for the men’s room just a few feet away. Maria smiled over at him and he turned his back to her. Maria’s blood boiled, she had reached her breaking point. He couldn’t even manage to smile back at her. Maria picked up an empty soda can from the ground and threw it as hard as she could at him. The can hit him on the shoulder and he turned to her. “What’d you do that for?” he yelled. Maria looked at him or rather through him. “Strangers smile at each other Michael. Strangers! And you can’t even look at me.” Maria yelled. She turned around and walked back to the van, grabbed her bag and walked away.
No one saw her leave or which way she went. The tears running down her cheeks were not only out of sadness, but guilt for leaving all her friends behind and even for Michael.
They all piled in the van to leave the gas station. “Where’s Maria?” Liz asked. Everyone shrugged their shoulders. “Did she get out of the van?” Liz asked again. “Yeah, I saw her by the bathrooms.” Michael explained. “But I don’t know if she is over there anymore.” He finished. Liz rolled her eyes and got out of the front seat. She was gone a few minutes before running back to the van. “She isn’t here.” Liz said in a frantic tone. She hopped in the van. “I checked everywhere, she’s not here. Oh my God Max, what if someone took her?” Liz was nervous. This hadn’t happened before. Kyle leaned over the backseat. “Her bag is gone.” Liz let out a whimper. “If someone took her they wouldn’t stop for her bag.” Max said calmly. Inside he was frightened that they were under attack. “She left.” Michael stated. Liz and Isabel both whipped around to face him. “What do you mean, she left?” Isabel asked as sternly as she could. “I don’t know for sure, but she was kind of mad before…” Michael trailed off. Liz adjusted herself in the front seat to face Michael directly. “Michael, I swear to God if we do not find her I am going to hold you responsible.”
Max started up the van and turned left on a whim. They were driving for about a mile before they saw her. Liz let out a sigh of relief. Michael felt a lump form in his throat. Max slowed the van down while Liz spoke out the window to Maria. “Maria, what are you doing?” She asked. “I have to leave Liz, I’m sorry but this isn’t… it isn’t… it just isn’t…” Maria couldn’t find the words to describe how she was feeling. Max stopped the van. “Michael, go talk to her.” Max ordered. Michael sat still for a moment, before both Liz and Isabel glared at him.
Michael popped out of the van, as soon as Maria saw this she started walking faster. “Get back in the van Maria.” He said. Maria turned around. “Are you kidding me?” The tears daring to fall out of her eyes. “That is all you can say? You’ve been treating me like I’m invisible and ‘get in the van’ is all you can say? The answer is no Michael. I can’t do this. I can’t be this outcast among outcasts. I won’t do this to myself any more.”
Michael stopped following her, and turned back to the van. Liz motioned for him to follow her. “Maria!” He yelled. “Stop walking. Where are you going to go?” Michael asked. Maria shrugged her shoulders. She really didn’t know where she was going but at this point it didn’t matter. “Look, I’m sorry okay?” Michael said. Maria dropped her bag turned around and ran towards him hitting him as hard as she could. She was sobbing now. “You are not sorry! You do this to me every time! You are not sorry!” She yelled through her tears. Everyone in the van watched her fall apart.
“I loved you, and you don’t talk to me! You don’t look at me! I am not going to waste my life waiting for things to change!” Maria stopped hitting him and looked down at the ground. “You didn’t leave me any choice.” She stopped crying and walked away from him. Michael just stood there. She was right. She was always right. And he was going to let her get away from him again. Liz hopped out of the van yelling after Maria. “Maria! Maria!” She cried out to her. “You can’t leave Maria, I need you here!” Liz yelled but Maria didn’t even turn around. Maria kept walking away from them, Michael stood behind the van trying to concentrate on breathing. Liz leaned against the hood crying, watching her best friend walk away.
After too many minutes to count Max got out of the van and slammed the door. He walked to the back of the van. Michael was sitting on the bumper. “Why are you doing this?” Max asked. Michael looked at Max with red eyes. Max had never seen Michael cry. Ever. “She’s right Max. She deserves to have something better.” Michael said trying to clear the sadness out of his voice. “Do you love her Michael?” Max asked. “That doesn’t matter.” Michael said back to him quickly. “That’s the only thing that matters Michael. Do you love her?” He pressed. Michael looked at Max and he didn’t even need to hear the answer because Michael’s eyes explained it all. “Why don’t you tell her?” Max suggested. “I already did. But what can I give her? This for the rest of her life?” Michael wanted more than a life on the road for her. “Maybe you should let her decide that.” Max said before getting back in the van.
Michael sat thinking of what to do, what he could do to give Maria the life she deserved. Selfishly he wanted to pick her up and never let her go. Never let her feel as bad as she does right now. He wanted all the normal things for her. The movies, late dinners, arguing. He loved to argue with her.
Michael walked to the front of the van where Liz stood staring after Maria. She looked comatose. “Liz.” Michael said. Liz turned and walked over to Michael and slapped him across the face. “All she did was love you and you had to keep breaking her heart. Of course she would want to leave us.” Liz’s voice was filled with so much anger. She walked back over to the shallow hood of the van and leaned back against it.
Michael took off down the road after Maria. Isabel perked up in the backseat. “What if she won’t come back?” Isabel asked. Max turned around to face her and Kyle in the back of the van. “I don’t know what we’ll do. I thought we’d all want to stay together.” Max said. “That’s a little naïve. I mean eventually we are going to have to stay somewhere or split up, aren’t we?” Isabel asked. “We can’t just run forever.” Kyle added. Max nodded his head in agreement. Their little family was falling apart.
Michael kept walking, trying to come up with something that he could say to her that would change her mind. Something that would make her come back, come back and work it out. He saw her sitting on the side of the road resting her head on her knees. He walked up and sat down next to her. He sat there for a moment before speaking.
He started to speak and she stood up and backed away. He walked closer. “Maria.” He said. “Come back.” He continued. She turned to him. “Michael, do you love me?” The question was simple. “You know that I do.” Michael said looking down at the ground. “No, I don’t.” She said firmly. He looked up and moved closer to her. “Yes you do.” He said with a smirk and kept moving closer to her. “No, I really don’t.” Her voice was starting to shake. He wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered into her ear. “Yes, you do Maria Deluca. You’ve known everyday since we first kissed that I love you. So why do we make this so hard?” The heat between them was burning her up. “Are you going to stop loving me?” She asked. He picked her up off the ground slightly and held her ear to his mouth. “It’s not even possible for me to stop. I’ve tried and I can’t.” He assured her while placing her back on the ground.
“Not good enough, Michael.” Maria held his face in her hands and looked into his eyes. “I wish you hadn’t tried so hard to stop loving me.” She was calm; she knew that nothing at this point was going to change her mind. She dropped her hands and kept walking. Soon she would be gone, picked up by some stranger and taken far, far away from him.
Just like that Maria was gone. Liz fell apart, Michael shut down, Isabel crawled back into herself. They stayed together like that for the next year, traveling around, seeing the sights until one day they stopped for dinner at a greasy spoon off Route 12 in Maine and saw her. They saw her through the windows of the diner before they even got out of the van. She had cut her hair short, and her smile was back. They watched her bounce from table to table, talking and laughing.
“Should we go in?” Kyle asked. Liz nodded her head; she had missed Maria so much. Being separated from her was one of the most painful things she had been through. They tried to look for Maria, but she could have been anywhere and anywhere is hard to find. Max looked back at Michael who hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “Just give me a sec.” Michael said getting out of the van.
He walked to the back door of the restaurant and walked in to the kitchen. He could smell her perfume over the greasy hamburgers. She walked into the back and dropped the stack of plates she was carrying. “What are you doing here?” She asked quickly trying to force the smile off her face. “I’m hungry.” He said looking her over. Maria smirked at him. “Really, Michael.” He smiled at her. “I want to marry you.” He blurted out. Maria took a step back, her breath lost somewhere in her body. “What?” She managed. “I thought about what you said and you were right. I shouldn’t have tried to stop loving you, I never even could. I just didn’t want you to be stuck with me.” He said inching closer to her. “And now?” Maria asked, hoping against hope that he would say the right thing. “Well, now I guess you can decide. I think I finally realized that my judgment on certain things might not be the best.” Michael said with a wink. “Oh, certain things huh?” Michael nodded his head. She kept speaking, closing the gap between them. “I haven’t seen you in a year and you…” He cut her off. “13 months, and 5 days.” He corrected. She smiled. “Okay, I haven’t seen you in 13 months and 5 days and you tell me you want to marry me?” Maria felt weak even saying the words. “I suppose I should ask.” He said. She walked closer so they were almost face to face. “I suppose you should.” He kneeled down, looked up at her and asked, “Maria Deluca, no matter where or when, no matter what I say or don’t say, I will always love you. Will you marry me?”
And there in the dirty, smelly, hot kitchen of a diner in the middle of nowhere Michael and Maria got engaged. They were never perfect for each other, they never even spoke kindly to each other, but hell, their love was something no one could break.
As hard as they tried.
After the End (M/M Mature) 1/1 - 11/17/08
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