Roswell Fanatics

Hey guys, sorry my updates for this fic have been a little erratic. This chapter has been written for about a month but I just couldn’t seem to get it to flow right. Now thanks to my writing Fairy Godmother, aka Erin, it has been whipped into shape and is finally ready for posting.

Thanks to all who left feedback after the last chapter.

Carolyn.

Killjoy.

Chapter 21

Kyle called their friends over to try and cheer Maria that evening, feeling the need to drag her away from the funk she descended into after they collected the broken pieces of her guitar from the school that afternoon.

Courtney was called into Principal Forrester’s office after he inspected the damage done in the music room, and she was last seen being escorted from campus by her parents, their expressions grim, as rumors ran wild she was suspended for a week.

When they got home from school, and they carried the broken pieces of the guitar into the house, Amy went into full rant mode. Once she heard what happened, she vowed retribution just like her daughter and pulled an emotional Maria into her arms, crying silently with her as they mourned the loss of a priceless piece of family history.

Now, hours later, Michael and Maria were together on one of the couches in the basement den. Maria lay on her side with her head in Michael’s lap as he soothingly ran the fingers of one hand through her hair, his other resting against her hip. From their position, Maria could see her friends standing by the bar, their presence in the room oddly soothing as they respected her sadness by keeping their distance while offering comfort and whole-hearted support by just being there.

Kyle was standing beside the wooden bar with Tess perched on one of the tall stools, a glass of juice in her hand and his hand lazily lying on her thigh.

They spoke in murmured tones, each keeping their eyes open and watching the silent interactions between Michael and Maria at the other end of the large space. Maria was a study in misery, but she accepted the comfort Michael had to offer, closing her eyes every once in a while as tears streamed down her face again.

“What a day,” Kyle murmured to Tess, stroking her thigh lazily before he moved behind the bar to pull a bottle of ice cold beer out of the mini-fridge beneath the wooden platform. He decided today had been a nightmare and that earned them the right to forego his dad’s rule of ‘no alcohol on a school night’.

“Yeah, I certainly cannot believe what happened today,” she replied, shaking her head at his offer of a beer.

“And it all started off so well, too,” he agreed, thinking back to the morning and the nervousness he felt for Maria because of her performance in music class. He’d never even asked how it had gone, and now wasn’t the time to find out, especially since it was her music class that required her guitar in the first place, which was part of the reason why it was in a million pieces now.

“I can’t believe what that psycho did to Maria’s guitar!” Tess exclaimed, clearly following Kyle’s line of thought as he was remembering the day they’d all had.

“I always knew Courtney was a little demented, but this is just beyond anything I could imagine,” Isabel agreed, joining in on the conversation as she scooted her bar stool closer to Tess.


Liz sat at the other end of the bar, observing her friends, and she swung her eyes to look over to her new friend and saw Michael lean down to whisper something in the blonde’s ear. As Maria nodded to whatever he said, Liz smiled. This was a completely new thing for Michael. She had never seen him comfort anyone before, granted, they weren’t exactly the best of friends, but during the year he spent working with her at the café, she felt she knew him a little better than she did before and certainly better than a lot of their classmates.

“It’s definitely something I never thought I’d see,” Max said beside her, and Liz turned to him, her eyes furrowing in question.

“Michael comforting a girl without some ulterior motive,” Max explained with a casual shrug, nodding his head in the direction of the couch and Michael and Maria.

Liz smirked to him. “I think he’s already got what he normally had an ulterior motive for.”

“Yeah,” Max agreed matching her smile.

Liz turned back to gaze at the couple on the couch, still so wrapped up in one another and not paying attention to their surroundings in the least.

“So, Liz, I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Max started, moving a little closer to her.

“What?” she queried skeptically, her eyebrows rising as she turned to look at him.

“Would you like to go to the movies with me or something?” he asked, looking surprisingly shy at that moment as his dark brown eyes met her lighter ones in question before darting around the basement once more out of sheer nervousness.

Liz’s eyes were wide, and she was shocked to hear those words come from Max directed at her.

“Me?” she asked, just to clarify. Certainly, Max Evans wasn’t asking her out. Was he?

“Yes, Liz,” he bobbed his head with a chuckle, meeting her questioning gaze once more with a look of amusement. “You.”

Liz was bewildered. Max Evans asked her on a date. Max, the self-professed stud of West Roswell High, was asking little Lizzie Parker out. Wait, maybe that’s it. Max liked to take the girls out, have sex with them, and then ditch them. Was that his ultimate plan? She shook her head at the thought because she wasn’t like that, and she refused to let that happen to her.

“I don’t know, Max,” Liz finally said, her words drawn out slowly.

“C’mon, Liz,” he pleaded lightly with her, intent on getting her to say ‘yes’ to his invitation. “If not a movie, then maybe just a cup of coffee?”

Liz still looked unsure, and she raised her shoulders in a helpless gesture.

“Somewhere there are lots of people,” Max added.

Liz’s eyes flicked over to Maria, unsure what to say.

“Don’t make me beg, Liz,” Max shot her his most charming grin.

Liz lowered her eyes and looked up at him through her thick lashes, unsure what to do other than accept his invitation. “Ok.”

“Ok?” Max repeated and at her nod, he laughed. “Awesome.”

“As long as Maria and Michael join us,” she added, her eyes shooting back over to the reclining couple to find them in the same position, and hoping Maria wouldn’t mind she was making plans for the four of them.

“I can live with that,” Max accepted.


Maria watched from her position on the couch with Michael as Max proceeded to hit on her friend, her legs stretched out in front of her as she altered studying Max hitting on her Liz to swinging her eyes to Michael, whom she was partially lying on top of.

“Michael?” she started, her voice low.

“Yeah?” Michael answered lazily, his fingers still in her hair as he met her green gaze with a question in his eyes.

“If your friend hurts my friend, I will not be responsible for my actions,” she stated firmly, tilting her head toward Max and Liz and the conversation their two friends were having.

Michael looked over to Max and Liz and grinned down at her, meeting her eyes. “Understood, babe. I’ll have a word.”

“Make sure you do because I know people who know people, and it won’t be pretty,” Maria stated seriously.

Michael chuckled a little at her words as Maria shot her death glare at Max in warning, but the other guy was oblivious to Maria’s look, his attention solely on the brunette who was seated beside him. Michael knew Max was not gonna treat Liz like he did those other girls he dated. Somehow, he innately knew Liz was not gonna be another notch on Max’s bed post.


Isabel shook her head at Max’s goofy grin. She had never seen him like this. Normally, he just picked up girls at parties or at school to hook up with. She didn’t recall him ever asking a girl out on a formal date before, and that made her incredibly happy for her brother. He was growing up. Or maybe at least attempting to, if nothing else, clearly following Michael’s lead by going after a girl he wanted and making the effort instead of just trying to bed her.

She rose from her bar stool next to Tess, and she moved behind the bar to stand next to Alex, who was mixing some kind of complicated drink in the shaker he found there, an array of bottles of alcohol, soda, and fruit juices in front of him.

“It looks like everyone is pairing up,” she observed conversationally.

“Looks that way,” he answered nonchalantly, trying hard not to be overwhelmed that she was talking to him as he finished shaking his drink, pouring his virgin daiquiri into a tall glass he found in one of the cabinets above the bar.

“Don’t you think it’s weird how this little group has come together so quickly?” Isabel asked, her eyes wandering the room instead of staring at the mixed drink Alex was now sipping through a straw, trying hard not to laugh at how comical he looked, and resisting the urge to add one of the brightly colored cocktail umbrellas.

“Yeah,” Alex agreed. “It’s amazing what one person can do.”

“Well, we’re lucky Maria came to Roswell when she did,” Isabel agreed, bobbing her head in agreement as she thought of all the changes that had occurred to bring this unlikely group of eight together in the same room, all there for one purpose: to cheer up Maria.

Just as Isabel was pondering that, Tess spoke up, her voice whiney. “We need to do something to cheer Maria up.”

“Like what?” Isabel asked.

They all turned to Kyle, faces expectant and hopeful that Maria’s brother would know what she needed to feel better after the hellacious afternoon she’d just experienced.

“What?”

“What does Maria like to do for fun?” Isabel asked.

Kyle looked at Isabel as if she was insane, his brows rising and an amused smile forming on his lips.

“Sex, alcohol, music, shopping. In that order,” Kyle listed seriously, earning a few groans from their little group who were banding together while still watching Michael and Maria wrapped up in each other on the couch.


An hour later, the eight teenagers were seated in a circle on the carpeted floor of the basement, several of them cracking up. They were playing a mixture of different games, including 21 Questions, Apples to Apples, and Two truths and a lie, and it was getting more complicated by the moment.

But their plan was working, and Maria was smiling and engaging with them as they played this goofy combination of a game in an attempt to make her feel better about all the things that happened during her day.

“I don’t know what you think is so funny,” Kyle goaded them after failing miserably at a dare Michael had rewarded him with. “Hey, do you guys want to see my elephant impression?”

“Say no! For the love of all that is holy, just say no!” Maria screeched, knowing where this was heading and attempting to ensure her friends were not scarred for life by her wayward brother who had the oddest sense of humor sometimes.

“I’m sticking with what Maria says,” Tess chimed in, staring at her boyfriend wide-eyed and curious, but not giving in, knowing his sister probably knew better than any of them what the elephant impression entailed.

“Yeah,” Michael agreed. “I’d say in this instance, Maria knows best.”

“Maria knows best?” Kyle sounded indignant.

“Maria knows best,” Maria repeated smugly. “There you go. Now you know from here out, brother dearest, so its time to accept the truth.”

The group broke into laughter again, and this time, it was interrupted by a loud yawn from Maria.

Alex looked down at his watch to discover it was already 10pm, and the next day was a school day. “Look at the time!”

The group disbanded shortly thereafter, Max and Liz leaving together with Isabel and Alex following on their heels. Kyle and Tess climbed up the stairs to say goodbye to their friends and to allow Michael and Maria a little privacy.

“Some day, huh?” she asked him.

“Yeah,” he concurred. “I can’t believe it’s only Wednesday.”

“You’re preaching to the choir,” she sighed, leaning into his chest as his arms came to wrap around her.
“And this weekend isn’t gonna bring much rest.”

“You got plans for me that I don’t know about?” he asked, pulling back from their hug slightly to look into her twinkling eyes, and he groaned when she shook her head.

“We’ve got a family function in L.A. this weekend, and I can’t miss it, but if I could, I’d totally have plans for you.”

“Well, you will just have to make it up to me then,” his tone was light.

“I always do,” she winked at him.

***********************

Maria walked up the marble steps to the ornate doors of the grand hotel, feeling almost like she had come home.

The best thing about living away from L.A. was definitely the fact they got to use the hotel more. Well, technically, she already used the L.A.-based hotel plenty of times, but the less her mother knew about that, the better.

The doorman smiled to her, lifting a hand to his hat and tipping his head forward slightly, and she smirked to him as she passed.

She entered the hotel lobby with an air of importance, Kyle beside her, Amy and Jim a step behind. She waltzed straight over to the check-in desk with Kyle while her parents stopped to greet someone in an expensive suit, wishing she could by-pass all this fuss.

“Welcome to Lucaia Dream Hotel,” an over-smiling 20-something greeted from behind the walnut desk, the girl’s honey-colored locks shining in the fluorescent lights arranged over the exquisite marble counter. She leaned forward, her smile seemingly plastered into place as she asked, “Do you have a reservation?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Maria exclaimed, an immaculate eyebrow raising.

The receptionist looked at Maria condescendingly. “You need a reservation to stay here, Miss. This is an exclusive hotel.”

“I know that,” Maria returned, her eyes narrowing at the blonde who clearly felt as though she was in charge of the hotel. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t.”

The woman behind the desk looked at Maria with disdain, her eyes wandering over her jeans and t-shirt, and she clicked her tongue in a condescending manner.

“I think we might be out of your price range,” her eyes swung over to Kyle, and she gave him an appraising look, her facial expression not changing. “Maybe you would be more comfortable at the motel down the street.”

Maria opened her mouth in shock as she turned her face to stare at Kyle wide-eyed, flummoxed at the behavior of the receptionist.

“She thinks I’m a hooker,” she stated with disgust, and when Kyle chuckled, she pushed hard against his shoulder with her hand, causing him to take a few steps back or lose his balance. He held his hands up in a white flag gesture as he took a few steps away from his stepsister, who clearly didn’t want to be messed with at the moment.

She turned back to the bleached blonde behind the desk. “You have just lost your job, bitch.”

“You can’t threaten me,” the receptionist returned, a smug smile forming on her lips as she clearly took Maria’s threat as anything but.

“Oh, can’t I?” Maria retorted. She huffed for a moment, then stood to her full height and looked the receptionist straight in the eye, asking, “Where is Richard?”

The woman looked a little taken back that this girl knew her manager by name.

“He is unavailable at the moment,” she told Maria. “And I’m gonna have to ask you and your friend to leave.”

“You’re asking me to leave?” Maria asked incredulously, her voice rising slightly. “You’re kicking us out?”

“If you don’t leave right now, I’ll be forced to called security and the police,” she was told.

Maria grinned, turned and hopped up onto the marble desktop. “You do that. Get Richard here, as well.” She looked to Kyle. “This should be good.”

The receptionist moved to her side, out of earshot of Maria and Kyle, and lifted a telephone receiver to her ear.

She waved to someone in the distance before looking smugly at Maria and turning her back on the teenager who so boldly was seated upon the check in desk, staring off into space without an apparent care in the world, a grin forming on her lips as she spoke to the boy who entered the hotel with her.

“Can you believe her?” Maria asked Kyle disbelieving.

“You could have just told her who you are,” Kyle reasoned with a half-smile.

“I shouldn’t have to,” Maria huffed, crossing her legs elegantly as she leaned back slightly on the desk, stretching out her spine.

A security guard moved over to them and stated, “Miss, I’m gonna have to ask you to get down from the desk and leave the premises.”

“You have got to be joking,” Maria exclaimed loudly. “Is everyone new here?”

“Miss?” the guard asked again, his arm reaching out to help her from the desk.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” Maria said menacingly.

“What seems to be the problem?” a familiar smooth voice asked.

“This girl and her friend refuse to leave,” the receptionist told the manager, her eyes swinging back to
Maria as she graced the teenager with a superior smirk.

Maria turned to Richard, Lucaia Dream’s longtime manager, and grinned. “Hey, Dicky. How’s it hangin’?”

“Miss Deluca, it’s good to see you again,” the middle-aged man answered with a warm smile. “What is the problem?”

“The problem is this bitch is trying to throw me out. She suggests the motel down the street is more my style,” Maria explained indignantly.

“Michelle, wait for me in my office,” he instructed with a passing glance to the other woman.

“What?” Michelle returned, watching as Richard helped Maria down from the desk.

“Let me personally show you to your suite, Miss Deluca,” Richard offered, ignoring Michelle as she watched the scene unfold before her in disbelief.

“Thanks, Dicky. You’re a gem.”

Michelle watched as they moved off to one of the private elevators. She couldn’t believe Richard was letting that tramp stay here, and it was obvious she had been here before. Surely, she was one of those high-end prostitutes, and she had Richard wrapped around her pinky finger.

She grabbed one of the older bellhops as he moved past her. “Hey Eddie, who’s that?” she asked pointed to Maria as she waited by the elevator.

“What? Maria?” he asked in surprise.

“Maria? You know her name?”

Eddie shrugged. “Of course. She owns the hotel.”

With those words, Michelle felt her so far promising hotel career quickly vanish before her eyes.

************************

“So what are you looking for, Ria?” Kyle asked following his sister down the palm tree-lined street, pulling slightly on her arm when she was distracted by the glittering jewelry in one store window, knowing no good could come of Maria visiting a jewelry store except their parents being incredibly angry when they received the credit card statement.

After settling into the room nearly an hour ago, Maria announced she needed to find a dress for the Skinner Foundation Benefit, as the ones sent by the personal shoppers were not anything she would consider suitable.
After much trepidation, Amy and Jim agreed to let Maria and Kyle make their way to Rodeo Drive after Maria refused to allow the personal shopper to head back out to the stores to bring back another round of potential dresses.

“I don’t know, Kyle,” she admitted, huffing slightly as she paused to gaze through the window of La Perla.
After a moment’s rest, she started off again, leading Kyle in a quick trot, and she called over her shoulder,
“All that I know is I’ll know it when I see it. And it’s gotta be here.”

******************************
Amy paced gracefully through the large, open space of the penthouse foyer, the flowing skirt of her Valentino original making it seem like she was gliding instead of walking.

“Relax, Amy,” Jim instructed softly.

“Relax, you say,” Amy returned, turning back to him. “I wish I could.”

“I’m sure she chose something appropriate,” he reassured her.

“Jim, do you not remember that scrap of material she wore to last year’s Skinner Foundation Benefit?”

Jim stopped his wife as she swept past him again, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. “Trust her, Amy. She’s not the same person she was a year ago.”

They both turned when they heard footsteps moving down the ornate hallway, both immediately knowing they were too heavy to be Maria’s.

Kyle entered the foyer wearing a crisp, grey Armani suit, pulling gently on the cuff of one arm as he moved into the space with his parents.

“Stop fussing, Kyle,” Amy reprimanded automatically, crossing the hall to her step-son and smoothing away imaginary wrinkles.

Maria’s footsteps on the marble staircase caused all three to turn their heads, and Amy breathed a sigh of relief when her daughter came into view.

She was wearing a pale, mint green dress with a high neckline. The dress was held up by two extremely thin straps over her shoulders and flowed all the way to the floor. The soft material draped around her body sensually, but it wasn’t over the top like Maria’s gown from the previous year. A split in the skirt showed a generous amount of leg, the opening finishing high on her thigh, but Amy was satisfied the dress held a degree of decorum. Maria’s blonde hair was pulled up in a French twist, a diamond clip holding it in place, as curling tendrils haphazardly escaped it, which added an air of allure to her outfit.

“Well?” Maria asked her small audience, pausing on a marble step for effect.

“Oh, honey. You look beautiful,” Amy gushed.

“Let’s get this thing rolling,” Maria smiled and moved the rest of the way down the stairs, happy to hear her mother was pleased with her dress of choice. She and Kyle had been on their way back from Rodeo Drive,
Maria being convinced she would be resigned to wearing one of the hideous gowns brought by their personal shopper when she saw this gown in a window, and she knew in that moment she had to have it.

As Maria walked past her mom, heading for the door, Amy gasped.

Maria’s beautifully sophisticated dress had absolutely no back to it at all, and the elegant lines of Maria’s back were on display for all to see.

“It’s ok, Amy,” Jim said from behind her, chuckling slightly at the surprise element of Maria’s gown. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from our daughter.”

“And did you really expect her not to show some skin?” Kyle added. “This is Maria we are talking about.”

The Valenti-Deluca family arrived at the benefit nearly an hour later, primed and ready, smiling and waving at the sea of photographers lining the red carpet leading into the Natural History Museum where the benefit was taking place.

Maria paused briefly for a few photographs and then hustled the rest of her group into the building. She had time in her life for a lot of things, and while she loved posing for photographs, dealing with the paparazzi at events like these were not one of her favorite things.

Once inside the building she was greeted by Howard Skinner, patriarch of the Skinner family and their Foundation. “Ms. Deluca, you look more beautiful every time I see you. Thank you for your most generous donation to the Foundation.”

“Don’t mention it, Mr. Skinner. Deluca Enterprises will always be ready to help. There are so many who benefit from your Foundation,” Maria schmoozed, a dazzling smiling lighting up her face.

Howard Skinner turned and motioned forward someone from the group behind him. “Maria, you remember my grandson, Logan?”

Maria grimaced inwardly while keeping her smile as Logan stepped closer, his blue eyes sparkling as they locked with Maria’s. “Of course, I remember him.” She offered her hand to the 20-something standing in front of her. “It’s good to see you again, Logan.”

The handsome man smirked to her, his blonde goatee was neatly trimmed, and his clothes were pristine, and he turned over her hand, lifting it higher. “Maria, you are looking exquisite as always,” he replied before brushing his lips against the back of her hand, lingering a few seconds too long.

“Logan, why don’t you escort Maria into the banquet hall?” Howard suggested.

“It would be my pleasure,” Logan agreed quickly, not letting go of Maria’s hand, instead tucking it into the crook of his arm and turning Maria in the right direction.

Maria was far from stupid. She knew Howard Skinner was trying to forge a connection between the two great families, but she was gracious enough not to make a scene during the event.

“It’s been a while, Maria,” Logan’s smooth voice reached her ears. He leaned a little closer to her ear, “You remember the last Skinner Foundation Benefit?”

Maria rolled her eyes at his question though she smiled fondly. “Yeah, I remember,” she returned. “But don’t expect a repeat performance.”

“Ahh, c’mon, Ria. We both know how boring and stuffy these functions can get,” Logan moaned lightly, keeping his volume down so the couples around them didn’t hear as they moved through the space.

“Not gonna happen, Logan,” Maria whispered from the corner of her mouth as they approached some of the older members of Los Angeles society.

“Never say never,” he grinned back.

They both paused as their names were called, and Logan leaned in closer as a photographer snapped a couple of pictures.

Maria scanned the room, eager to escape Logan, and smiled when her eyes fell on Tyler Andrews. “Sorry, Logan, but one of my board members is across the room, and I have something I must discuss with him.”

“Maria,” Logan whined.

Maria patted him on the chest. “Go have your fun with someone else, Logan. I have a boyfriend.” And she moved quickly from him and over in the direction of Tyler, catching Kyle by his elbow as she past him and pulling him with her.

“Never leave me alone with Logan Skinner again,” she hissed.

“But I thought you guys were “friends”,” Kyle actually used air quotes, a teasing grin forming on his lips.

“Yeah, but I think his grandfather is hoping for a little more than friendship,” she ground out.

“Oh, a merger with Deluca Enterprises and The Skinner Family Foundation,” Kyle grinned. “Something that involves a prenup?”

“Yeah, and me losing half my assets. Not gonna happen,” she stated fiercely. “I knew it was a bad idea to attend this benefit.”

“You did not,” Kyle barked out with laughter. “You couldn’t wait to get back out here again.”

“Yeah, well, now I’m thinking it’s a bad idea,” she finished. “Now, go find someone else to annoy.”

“I thought you didn’t want to be left alone?” Kyle replied smugly.

“True,” she relented, her eyes searching the hall. “Let’s hit the bar.”

“Now you’re talking,” Kyle agreed, grabbing hold of her hand and moving them in the direction of the long bar and hoping no one would question their age.

******************************

Good afternoon, folks. Hope you are all having an awesome Sunday.

Thanks to everyone continuing to read this story.

Carolyn: Thanks

Sara: Yeah, Courtney certainly needs a bitch slap Thanks

Chapter 22.

Maria and her family arrived back home in Roswell at 6pm that Sunday evening. The Skinner Foundation Benefit had been a great success, raising money to help the disadvantaged children of East L.A., as well as donating additional monies to a local children’s hospital.

Once back at their house, Maria flopped onto her bed, her cell in hand as she hit speed dial, eager to make her phone call. She had missed Michael’s voice more than she would like to admit to, and she smile as she lifted the device to her ear, her pulse quickening in anticipation.

“Hey, Legs,” Michael’s smooth tone filtered through the device before she identified herself to him.

“Did you miss me?” she asked, her fingers picking absentmindedly at her comforter.

“Nah, I was too busy,” he returned.

“What?” Maria scowled, sitting up. “Doing what?”

“Ah, ya know, half the girls in Roswell,” she now heard the teasing tone in his voice, and she relaxed.

“Yeah, you wish,” she grinned down the cell phone to him.

“I don’t know, Blondie. It’s been known to happen,” Michael told her sincerely.

“So do you want a list of all the guys I nailed in L.A?” she teased back.

“Not even funny, Babe,” Michael said coolly.

Maria laughed. “Don’t worry, Spaceboy. There’s no list.”

“Good,” he muttered.

“So what did you do without me?” Maria asked, settling back against her pillows again.

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

“Do you wanna come over? I have something for you,” he finally said.

Maria chuckled. “I bet you do.”

“Not that,” Michael returned cryptically. “Well, yeah, that, but something else, too.”

“Oh, intrigue. I love it,” she glanced at her alarm clock, noting the time. “I’ll be there in 20.”

“Ok, see ya soon.” And then he was gone.

Maria rose from her bed and searched through her travel bag for the shirt she bought Michael in L.A. She hoped to God he was clueless regarding designer labels and therefore, she wouldn’t have to explain the small fortune she paid for the casual button down shirt. She quickly removed the box the shirt had been placed in from its telltale charcoal gray bag, the silver, metallic logo twinkling as it caught the late afternoon sun shining through her large window. While Michael maybe oblivious to labels, Tess almost certainly would not be and Maria didn’t want to advertise the store label to anyone.

Kyle, of course, wasn’t so clueless and chuckled when she bought it, asking if Michael knew he was now a kept man.

Maria pinched his cheek, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll still buy your clothes, as well. God only knows what crap you would wear if I didn’t.”

Maria bounded down the stairs and into the family room where her Mom and Jim were watching some cooking program. Well, her mom was watching while Jim’s eyes were sort of glazed over.

“I’m heading out for a couple of hours,” she informed them as she moved into the kitchen and grabbed a rosy red apple from the bowl on the counter.

“Tell Michael we said hi,” her mom returned knowingly.

Maria nodded as she moved to the top of the steps, which led to the basement. “Hey dickwad, I’m going over to Michael’s. You wanna go see Tess?”

“Don’t call your brother names,” Amy said distractedly from her position on the couch.

Maria shrugged as she heard a garbled reply from Kyle and thinking it was something in the affirmative, she perched on the arm of the couch while she waited for him, taking a bite from her apple as her parents continued their television watching.

“Have you told Michael yet?” Jim asked her, turning his head from the TV.

“Told him what? That Kyle’s a dickwad?”

“Maria!” Amy reprimanded.

“No. About Deluca Enterprises?” Jim provided.

Maria shook her head.

When she saw the frown extend to his forehead, she continued quickly. “But I’m going to.”

This caused Amy to turn her attention from her program to her daughter.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” she asked, concern heavy in her voice.

“Michael’s not like the others, Mom,” Maria said as Kyle finally made it into the family room.

“I’m sure he isn’t,” Amy returned, though Maria could hear the disbelief in her mom’s voice.

“Yeah, Michael gets her all quivery with just one look,” Kyle interjected, catching Maria’s last comment.

Jim turned to his wife, a soft wistful smile on his face. “Don’t you ever wish our children were the type of teenagers who were repelled from talking about sex or anything sex-related in front of their parents?”

“Or a least did so with less details,” Amy returned.

Maria snorted a little at their comments, remembering a time when her mom and Jim hadn’t been so relaxed over their children being sexually active. After days of arguments, slamming doors and icy silence, the parents had come to the conclusion they couldn’t stop what Maria and Kyle did, their only choice had been to make sure the kids were safe and protected and aware of the dangers.

“Ya know, Maria,” Kyle said turning to his sister, “we just can’t win. The teachers are screaming at us to be more descriptive and open, and the folks don’t want us to share. I give up, I truly do.” And he threw his hands up in the air over-dramatically.

“C’mon, Buddha boy, let’s get out of here before they start sharing ‘cause I really don’t need to hear how the folks get their freak on,” Maria rushed, grabbing Kyle by his arm and pulling him from the room, their parents laughter echoing behind them.

*********************

Michael was out on the driveway, playing basketball with his foster brothers when Maria and Kyle finally pulled up in front of their house. Tess was sitting on the grass beside the driveway area, watching and shouting encouragement every so often.

Michael offered Maria a lopsided grin as she moved over to Tess, placing the white box she carried on the freshly cut grass before she dropped down next to her while Kyle teamed up with Nicholas, Michael’s younger foster brother, as they took on Michael and Tommy.

“How was L.A?” Tess asked excitedly, somehow even managing to bounce in her sitting position.

“Boring,” Maria replied, not wanting to go into the details of the fundraiser she had attended. “How have things been here?”

“Hectic,” Tess breathed out. “The renovators started yesterday. Dad even paid them extra to work during the weekend. My dad is converting the basement into a bedroom for Michael so his current room can be used for Alyssa. We went to meet her yesterday, she’s so cute and I can't wait to have a little sister.”

Maria was surprised the Hardings had started on the renovations so soon, but glad she could have been a little help in that situation.

Maria was watching as Michael moved around the drive, bouncing the ball and making shots. She had missed him, more than she realized, and it had only been two days.

Eventually, the game ended, and Michael flopped beside her on the lawn, breathing heavily with exertion. Kyle collapsed beside Tess while Tommy and Nicholas went to get sodas for everyone.

Michael made a grab for Maria, and she moved away. “Eww, no way, Spaceboy. You’re all sweaty and stinky.”

“Yeah, but that’s the way you like me the most,” he smirked back to her, ignoring her protests and pulling her toward him.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her down on top of him, finally crashing his lips against hers. Maria protested for a nanosecond before giving into him, her hands scrunching his t-shirt tightly.

Tess turned away from her brother and friend and smiled to Kyle. “They missed each other,” she said flatly.

“I missed you,” he grinned and grazed her lips with his tenderly. Tess sighed, sinking into his kiss and embrace, not at all minding that his shirt was sticking to his body in places with sweat.

“We should charge money for this show,” she heard Nicholas say as he and Tommy returned with their cooled drinks and she pulled away from Kyle quickly, the same time she heard Maria giggle.

Michael rolled Maria so she was securely under him, and she giggled.

“Guess you did miss me,” she stated, her lips close to his ear.

“Wanna come and see my room?” he asked as he nuzzled her neck.

“I’ve already seen your room,” she answered innocently.

“Yeah, but something might have changed. You wouldn’t want to miss that, would you?”

“Absolutely not.”

Michael rolled away from Maria and stood, pulling Maria along with him. Thinking quickly, she snatched up the box she had brought along with her and hid it slightly behind her back, allowing Michael to lead the way and hoping he didn’t spot this present she had brought back from L.A. for him. She waved to her brother and Tess, who were still sprawled out on the grass, and followed Michael into the messy house.

They made their way up the stairs, Michael pointing out a few of the constructions zones and areas where the house was being worked on as they moved, and before she knew it, they were upstairs outside his bedroom door.

Maria entered into Michael’s room, tossing the white box she had yet to give him on his bed.

“Well, nothing new in here,” Maria smiled as she wandered around his room.

“Are you sure?” Michael smirked from where he was leaning against the frame of his closet door.
Maria turned in a circle, her eyes roaming over the furniture and personal items in his room, still not noticing anything different.

“Nope,” she answered, “but, ya know, you don’t have to think of an excuse to get me into your room.”

“It’s not an excuse. Something is new in here.”

Maria looked again, still not seeing anything different or usual.

Michael casually moved his hand and opened his closet door, swinging it wide so she could see into the small space.

There in the center was a guitar. A simple guitar resting on a black stand.

Maria’s mouth hung open in surprise. She looked at Michael, who had a huge grin on his face, and then back to the guitar.

“Michael…”

“Look, I know it doesn’t compare in the slightest to your dad’s guitar. I mean, it probably cost one milli-tenth of that one, but…” he rubbed the back of his head nervously with an errant hand, “I just wanted you to have it.”

“There’s no such thing as a milli-tenth,” she corrected distractedly, stepping closer to the instrument.

“You know what I mean,” he returned.

She turned to him then. “You bought me a new guitar?”

“Yeah,” he grinned.

“How? Why?”

“Well, I kinda forced Alex into coming to Albuquerque with me and helping me pick one out. And why...?” he scratched his brow. “You know, I think I might have been the cause yours was demolished.”

Maria raised her eyebrow to him. “Sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

Michael shrugged. “It’s just, if Courtney hadn’t concocted this strange little fantasy of hers about me and her, she might not have been such a bitch to you.”

Maria lifted the guitar from it’s stand. It was a simple Fender acoustic, the body pale in color with black sides.

“I know it’s not as expensive as your dad’s and won’t come near to meaning as much, but…,”

“I love it,” she grinned, sliding her hand against the strings and then plucking at them, testing the tuning.

“I got a soft case, as well,” Michael added, thoroughly pleased with himself.

Maria returned the guitar to it’s stand reverently before throwing herself into Michael’s arms.

“Thank you, Michael,” she whispered softly against his cheek, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. She’s been given gifts from her boyfriends before, the odd stuffed teddy here and there, but this was different. This was personal and meant so much more. “You are so gonna get laid.”

“I didn’t get it for you so you would have sex with me,” Michael returned seriously, pulling away from her slightly, though still holding her tightly in his arms.

“I know,” Maria said honestly. “I just happen to want to do all kinds of naughty things to your luscious body.”

“Who am I stop a girl with a mission?” Michael laughed before crashing his lips against hers.

He turned on the spot before resting her against the wall next to his closet, his tongue asking for admittance into her mouth, which she freely gave.

He moved again, Maria still in his arms, and took two steps toward his bed, fumbling slightly when he reached it sooner than he thought, and they fell down together onto the soft surface.

Maria pulled her lips from his, a grunt of pain emanating from her.

“What?” Michael moved quickly off her, noting her face was contorted in pain. “Did I hurt you?”

Maria arched her back from the bed, slipping her arm behind her and pulled out the white cardboard box she had thrown there when they first entered his bedroom.

“Where did that come from?” Michael asked, eyeing the box suspiciously.

“Do you walk around with your eyes closed?” she probed, having the distinct impression she had posed that question to him before. “I brought it with me.”

She sat up, moving further into the middle of his bed and crossing her legs Indian style.

“What is it?” Michael questioned, inching next to her.

She smiled as she handed it over to him. “It’s for you.”

Michael flashed her a lopsided grin. “You got me something, too?”

“Well, you know what they say. Great minds and all.”

Michael’s brows furrowed quizzically.

“Never mind,” Maria laughed. “Open it.”

Michael laid a splayed hand over the box and moved his fingers slightly, as though caressing the box. Maria tilted her head as she watched him a soft smile on her lips as a childish gleam lit up his eyes. She wondered if he had received many gifts growing up, but judging from his reaction to the plain white shirt box in front of him, she guessed he hadn’t.

Michael intended to take his time with his gift and relish in the knowledge that his girlfriend had bought it for him, but his curiosity got the better of him, and soon, he was ripping at the thin cardboard.

Almost immediately, he held the contents in his hand. It was shirt, the richest blue color Michael had ever seen, and the fabric was incredibly soft. There was a distinctive paisley pattern to the material, though its print was discreet.

He held it up in front of him, impressed that it looked to be the right size.

“How did you know my size?” he asked her.

Maria shrugged one shoulder. “I have an innate ability to judge a male body,” she returned with a dazzling smile.

Michael gave a short laugh and tossed the shirt over his shoulder, now intent in returning to their previous position of her body under his.

Maria gave a start as the shirt which had cost her more than $2,000 sailed through the air, but was soon silenced by Michael’s lips upon hers.

********************

The school week passed quickly, and soon, it was Friday night. This Friday found Maria working at the CrashDown with Michael and Liz.

“Ya know what we should do tomorrow?” Maria grinned from her seat in the rear booth. The diner was less than half full, and the three were taking an advantage in the lull to sit and talk, sharing a plate of curly fries with Isabel, Alex, and Max. Kyle and Tess were noticeably missing from their small group, Kyle insisting Tess help him with his homework. Of course, the whole group knew it had nothing to do with homework.

“Fuck?” Michael asked with a glint in his eyes.

Liz almost choked on her fry. She’s been hanging with this group for some time now, but she still found it hard to get used to their frank way of talking.

Maria rubbed the back of her friend sympathetically while grinning to Michael. “Don’t we do that most days?”

“Well, yeah,” Michael smirked back. “So, what do you want to do apart from fuck?”

“I want to hang with my friends. We could swim, maybe barbeque,”

“Or order pizza,” Michael interjected, knowing he would most likely be the one grilling all night.

“Or that,” Maria agreed. “I could convince the folks they want to be elsewhere.”

“I think that sounds like fun,” Isabel smiled.

“Oh, I need a new bikini. We’ll have to go to the mall first,” Maria said, nodding to Isabel and Liz. “Maybe you guys could stay over.”

“Boy/girl sleepover,” Michael beamed. “I like it.”

“I was actually talking to Isabel and Liz,” Maria turned to him.

“So, no dicks allowed,” Isabel laughed.

Michael gave Maria an over-exaggerated pout. ‘”Don’t look like that Michael. I need my girl time.”

“Girl on girl action, even better,” he grinned before standing and heading back through the swing door that separated the backroom and kitchen from the diner, obviously looking for something else to eat.

“What is it with the whole girl on girl thing? I just don’t get it,” Maria said with exasperation.

“Of course, you don’t. You’re a girl,” Max said wisely.

“So, why don’t you enlighten us, O wise one?” she challenged.

As he opened his mouth to speak, the door opened, and Liz and Maria gave a collective sigh.
Liz stood first and moved over to the new customer.

“Hi. Welcome to the CrashDown…”

She didn’t get to finish as the stranger cut her off. “There she is, the Princess of Lucan Academy.”

Maria turned quickly at the sound, inhaling sharply when the voice matched the person she least wanted to see. She missed Isabel looking at Max and mouthing ‘Lucan Academy?’

“Billy, what the hell are you doing here?” Maria said hastily, standing from her chair as well and subconsciously tugging on her uniform, wanting to make the short skirt cover as much of her legs as possible.

“Figured you’d miss me by now, so I took a little road trip,” he replied, his eyes totally focused on her.

“You can’t be here,” Maria said quickly, casting her eyes to her new friends as they watched with interest.

“That restraining order is only effective in California, babe,” he replied.

At that point, Michael returned from the kitchen. He immediately noticed Maria’s tense stance and the way his friends were watching her and the tall, new guy who was standing in front of her. He was dressed casually in jeans and a button down shirt, but there was no mistaking his attire was expensive. His brown hair had a slight wave to it, and his face showed a day’s growth.

“Everything ok?” Michael asked, coming to stand next to Maria protectively.

“You doing him?” Billy asked curtly his eyes narrowing at Michael.

“Every chance I get,” Maria returned with a smirk.

“Figures you wouldn’t last long with a man between your legs,” Billy laughed, and Liz inhaled sharply, her
eyes darting from Maria to Michael to the new guy and back to Maria.

Maria drew back sharply as Billy’s statement, hating him even more for saying something like that in front of her new friends, no matter how true it may be.

“Hey!” Michael interjected, stepping closer to the dick standing in front of them.

“Just telling you like it is, Man,” Billy said smugly

“Maria?” Liz said cautiously.

“Liz, call Jim, and tell him Billy’s here,” Maria told her, not taking her eyes from Billy.

“C’mon, darlin’. We had some good times,” Billy moaned, ignoring the look Michael gave him.

“Billy, just leave me alone,” Maria hissed.

“If this is about that last time….”

Maria quickly grabbed his arm and turned, pulling him behind her as she headed for the backroom, making sure Liz was on the phone. This was gonna be a conversation she didn’t really want to have in front of her new friends.

When Michael made to follow them, she stopped him. “You stay here.”

Billy grinned at Michael as he pushed past him. “Knew she couldn’t resist me.”

Max flew from the booth when he saw Michael’s fists clench, stopping his friend from doing something he might regret.

“Trust her, Michael. Nothings gonna happen in there with us out here,” Max said, holding Michael back from following.

Eventually, Michael settled and relaxed a little as Isabel and Alex grinned to each other mischievously before moved closer to the door, intent on listening to what was being said.

As soon as Maria and Billy were safely in the back room, she turned on him.

“I got kicked out of school because of that last time,” she hissed trying to keep her voice low.

“I did, too,” Billy returned, “but unfortunately for me, my ruling wasn’t overturned, and I wasn’t allowed back. We all know why yours was. Don’t we?”

“You should have locked the door.”

“Come on,” Billy whined with a grin, “you were hot for it, too. You can’t deny that.”

“That’s not the point. You tried to ruin me and my name.”

“Had fun trying, too.”

“You’re not supposed to be anywhere near me.”

“I told you, that order is only valid in California.”

“Billy, I broke up with you three months ago. Take a hint.”

“Yeah, but you only did that because your mom made you.”

Maria laughed. “Since when has my mom made me do anything?”

“C’mon, darlin’. You telling me that dick out there is satisfying you? Remember, I know you and your appetite.”

“Michael is 100% better than you, and I never fake anything with him.”

“With me neither.”

“Don’t be so sure about that, Billy,” she returned smugly

“Maria, we had some wild times.”

“Had being the operative word. Shit, Billy, I moved two states over to get away from you.”

“You moved because your parents made you. You know he only wants you for your money.”

“He knows nothing about my money, Billy.”

On the other side of the door, Isabel turned to Alex. “Money?” she whispered.

Alex shrugged, hoping he could pull off the innocent look and the two turned quickly when the main door was sharply opened and Sherriff Valenti stalked into the diner.

“Where is he?” he demanded, his eyes swinging from Liz to Michael.

“In the back,” Liz answered timidly, pointing to the swinging door.

“Billy Darden,” Jim’s voice boomed as he entered the back room of the CrashDown.

Billy turned around to and smiled brightly. “Mr. Valenti.”

“That’s Sherriff Valenti to you,” Jim interceded. “I have a Deputy waiting outside to take you to the county line.”

“You can’t keep me from her,” Billy returned with a smug look on his face.

“She doesn’t want you Billy,” Jim said before slapping a sheet of paper against the younger man’s chest.
“Restraining orders from the City of Roswell. Move it.”

Jim physically pushed Billy back through the swing door and out into the diner.

“This is police brutality,” Billy moaned.

“Tell it to someone who gives a damn,” Jim hissed following him to the door.

Billy paused before leaving. “See ya later, Ria,” he called out with a smug grin, “You know no one will fuck you like I fuck you, no matter how much they try.”

And with one last, meaningful look, he was gone.

Maria finally exhaled slowly and nodded once to Jim who had stayed behind, letting him know she was ok.
She turned to see her friends’ reactions to Billy.

Max was looking with concern to Michael before swinging his gaze to meet hers.

Liz looked shocked and pale.

Isabel caught her gaze, and the taller blonde’s eyebrows shot up quizzically.

Alex was looking down, suddenly interested in his sneakers.

Michael, he was the hardest to read, his body tense, which caused Maria some frustration. He knew she had boyfriends before coming to Roswell, and he knew she had handed in her v-card some time ago, so why was she faced with this stonewall in front of her?

“What?” she stated to the group, though her eyes were on Michael. “You all knew I had boyfriends before I came here. So, one of them has a little trouble letting go.”

“It sounds more than a little trouble,” Max acknowledge with a small smile.

“Billy is a dick,” Maria said sharply.

“A dick you nailed,” Michael’s gruff tone filled the room.

“He wasn’t always,” Maria returned before looking at the remaining customers in the diner, suddenly remembering their presence.

She stalked forward again, this time pulling Michael into the backroom.

“Is Billy gonna be a problem? Because, ya know, Michael, I don’t have a problem with your previous fuck buddies.”

Michael sighed, the tension seeping from his body. He knew he had nothing really to complain about. Her old boyfriend hadn’t ruined his most prized possession like Courtney had with hers.

“I’m sorry, Maria,” he whispered. “I just didn’t like the way he was talking to you.”

Maria waved her hand, dismissing his worries.

“Michael, we both have a past, but that’s what it is. Past. We are together now, and that’s what I want. I want you. Nobody else.”

Michael smirked to her. “Ditto,” he said and held his arms out to her, and without hesitation, she stepped gratefully into them, leaning her head against his chest without another word.

As he held her close, Michael mind was running overtime. This meeting with her ex proved to him there were major parts of her life he knew nothing about.

Maybe she had shared one of the most significant and life-changing moments of her life, the death of her father, but that was all he really knew about her. Intimately, he knew her extremely well, but those other things a boyfriend should know they had yet to be learned.

He brushed his lips against her temple whilst making a mental note to correct this situation.

**************************