Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. I just abuse 'em.

Author's Notes: Argh! I did it again! I hate it when I do this! I keep startingnew fics when I have like 402 old ones to finish! But this was just too good to pass up. It's influenced by a Sailor Moon fanfic I read a LONG time ago by a wonderful fanfic writer, Alicia Blade, who wrote a fanfic entitled Royal Flush. If you're a fan of Sailor Moon and a fan of fanfic I highly suggest looking up this fic. It can probably be found at www.usamamo.com, though I'm not sure. So here it is. A new fluffy multi-part fanfic! It's alternate reality. Michael lives alone, his parents are dead, he holds a job at a big office building and has a super car (plays a big part later) Max and Isabel are still pretty much the same minus the super powers, as are Liz and Maria.

***

Maria DeLuca giggled, hoisting the stack of notebooks, papers and other school supplies higher into her arms. Her best friend Liz Parker stood beside her, carefully balancing a similar stack.

"I can't believe he let us help out!" Maria squealed, the papers tipping dangerously. "He is so hot."

"Maria!" Liz said sharply. "He's like 10 years older then you?"

"So? Maybe I like older men."

Liz sighed, shaking her head.

"Admit it, Liz, for a teacher the guy is scrumptious. Like...Antonio Sabato Junior or something."

Liz nodded. Mr. Kispen did have a Sabato air about him.

"Those lips, those eyes..." Maria was saying, dancing around the hall, the papers tipping dangerously from side to side. "That hair..."

Liz rolled her eyes. Maria was so absorbed in her daydreams of the godlike Mr. Kispen she didn't notice when Michael Guerin raced around the corner, bumping headlong into Maria. She screamed, crashing backwards, the papers scattering the halls.

"I'm sorry," Michael was saying, scrambling to grab the papers. "I'm really sor-oh." He let the papers drop, the apologetic expression on his face turning fiery. "It's you."

Maria glared back."And it's you." They growled at each other for a second.

"Are you okay?" Liz asked, breaking the anger induced trance.

"I was just fine until jerkoff here decided to collide into people," Maria snapped, shooting another dagger like look at Michael, who stood up, brushing himself off.

"I don't wanna hear it, DeLuca, you're the one who's always bumping into me," Michael glared, reaching down to pick up his own book and notebook.

"Thanks for your help," Maria said, gathering up the papers.

"You're welcome," he sneered, jogging off in the direction of his next class, which Liz assumed he was late for.

Maria began to grumble several four-letter obscenities about the departing male as she picked up the papers and notebooks. "He is such a jerk," Maria finished the string of insults, picking up the last notebook and straightening it.

"Yeah," Liz said. "But his friend is pretty cool."

Maria wrinkled her nose."Isabel? The Ice Queen? Yeah right," Maria said.

"No, his other friend. Max."

Maria eyed her friend for a moment. "He's so BORING," Maria said.

Liz shrugged. "I think he's...interesting."

"Yeah right. You just think he's cute," Maria teased.

"Those lips, those eyes, that hair..." she started again, dancing around the hall for good measure.

Liz sighed. She wasn't surprised. This was normal behavior for her quirky friend. "So," Liz said, desperate for a subject change. "You going to Alex's poker game this Friday?"

"Of course!" Maria squealed. "I think it's the coolest idea!" Maria laughed. "A poker party. A party with poker." She continued to skip down the hall, the papers tipping from left to right but never quite building up the energy to fall completely.

Liz sighed, following her friend down the hall.

***

"So," Isabel Evans brushed a lock of perfect blonde hair behind her ear. "Did you guys hear about Alex's poker game this Friday? Could be fun." She popped a fry into her mouth.

"Whitman?" Michael scoffed. "Like anything he does has the potential for fun."

Max looked up. "Could be cool," Max agreed, ignoring Michael's all out protest, knowing it didn't have anything to do with Alex Whitman personally but rather the company he kept. Namely Maria DeLuca.

"I think we should go," Isabel said finally. "For appearances sake."

"Why? We already do all sorts of stupid stuff 'for appearances sake'," Michael growled.

"This is different," Isabel said. "By blessing the poor social miscreants of our society with our presence we are shaping their future as human beings."

"That's a lot of work for one poker game," Max said.

"Are we feeling a little bit high and mighty, Queen Isabel?"

"Shut up," she snapped, ice cold blue eyes snapping in Michael's direction. "I'm simply doing West Roswell a favor."

"And dragging the rest of us poor schmucks down with you?"

"Just consider it a personal favor to me," Isabel said, teeth clenched.

"Why do we have to go anyway?" Michael asked. "Why can't you go by yourself?"

Isabel pouted, putting on her I-better-get-what-I-want-ASAP-or-there-will-be-hell-to-pay face. "Because. You're there for moral support."

"Can't morally support a person who lacks morals."

"What if I told you it was the perfect way to get back at little Miss DeLuca?" Isabel raised an eyebrow.

Michael leaned forward, interested."How?"

***

"Hey, Maria! Oh, Maria!" Isabel called, waving her hand.

Maria looked up, deer in headlights style, crushing her poor chicken sandwich in her hand.

Liz looked at her friend quizzically and Alex melted on the spot.

"Hey!" Isabel plopped down on the concrete beside them, almost wrinkling her baby blue skirt and matching sweater.

"Uh, hi," Maria looked at Liz, who shrugged, and then to Alex, who was too busy admiring to notice his friend's distress.

"I was just talking to Max," Isabel said, purposely leaving out Michael's name. No need to set off the fireworks too soon. "And he thinks it would be aWONDERFUL idea if we," she motioned around the semi circle. "Went to Alex's--"she winked at Alex. "--little poker game together."

Maria eyed her warily. "The catch being?" Maria asked.

"No catch! You're so silly!" Isabel winced inwardly. A few more minutes of this and her face would crack. "We just thought it would a good idea to get to know you."

She winked conspiratorily at Liz. "I think Max has a hidden agenda." Liz ducked, blushing. "So we'll pick you two up at the Crashdown around 6ish? Then we'll head over to Alex's," she turned that 100 watt smile on Alex, who looked like he was going to combust any second.

She stood up. "Then it's settled. See you at six." She turned, tossing that honey blonde hair of hers behind her back and flouncing off.

"That was..." Liz began.

"Weird as hell?" Maria provided helpfully.

"We're not really going with the Ice Queen, are we?" Maria asked fearfully. "Because I think I'm coming down with something...terminal."

"She's not THAT bad," Alex said, taking a bite of turkey on Rye.

"Yeah, but sadly, I'm not attracted to her," Maria said.

"Thank GOD," Liz almost choked on her own sandwich.

"Anyway," Alex broke in.

"Wait a second," Maria broke in. "I thought this was a group thing. Just us." She motioned to the group.

"I might have mentioned something to Isabel..." Alex looked at the ground sheepishly.

"Dammit Alex," Maria said. "Can't you control those boyish impulses and raging hormones for a second?"

Alex looked at her, deadpan. "No."

Maria hmmphed, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting. "I cannot believe I'm going to be forced to spend Friday night with the weirdo Max Evans and his witchy sister Isabel," Maria said.

"Like you had other plans," a voice said sarcastically from behind. Liz could see the anger rise, and Maria spun around, standing up at the same time, which was quite a feat.

"Or I could follow in your social footsteps by staying home alone, by myself with only nighttime dramas to keep me company." Maria glared, standing on tiptoes to give herself a little height, almost nose to nose with him.

"Who needs nighttime drama when I have the queen of slapstick comedy standing right in front of me?" Michael asked.

Maria stuck out her tounge, crossing her eyes.

"Very mature DeLuca," he said, crossing his arms. "Very mature."

"Thought I'd do you a favor by sinking down to a mentality you could understand," she smiled sweetly.

"I could do the same for you, but sadly, I can't go that far back," he returned the smile.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she growled.

"I came by to say hi, maybe catch up on old times," he shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to look innocent.

"Yeah, right," Maria glared at him. "Leave." She pointed across the quad.

"Why?" he slung an arm around her shoulder. "When I can spend lunch with the love of my life."

"Sorry, the kennel is on Markson Street," she shrugged off his shoulders.

"They finally let you out huh?" he laughed, walking off.

Maria growled."I hate HIM," she shrieked, drawing stares.

"Yeah, about that," Alex said. "You never told us why exactly."

"I don't want to talk about it," Maria huffed, plopping back onto the concrete.

"Ahh, come on, Maria. Why do you hate him so much?" Liz prodded.

"Because he is such a jerk!" Maria growled. "He thinks he's right all the time!"

"Or maybe you think you're right all the time?" Alex suggested.

She shot daggersin his direction. "I do NOT think I'm right all the time!" She yelled, again drawing stares.

"Maria!" Liz hissed. "It's okay!"

"I just don't like him, okay?" she stood up, tossing her lunch bag into the dumpster. "I'll see you later."

"What's wrong with her?" Alex asked, bewildered.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it's serious," Liz said solemnly. "She just threw away an entire chicken sandwich."

***

"The interesting thing about Rasputin was how utterly misunderstood he was," Mr.Kispen went on, pacing the front of the room.

Maria watched in awe, eyes starry, her chin cupped in the palm of her hand. "And his death was so tragic." Mr.Kispen went on.

Michael sat behind her, glaring at the back of her head.

"Which brings me to your next project."

There were collective groans throughout the class, mostly from the male side, who didn't care if their teacher was supermodel material.

Mr. Kispen smiled, a smile that could peel paint right off the wall. "I am going to put you in pairs of two, and am going to give you a packet with your assignment on it. Each packet will have the name of one key figure in the Russian Empire around the time that Rasputin was ingratiated in the government.You will be responsible for collecting enough information to write me a 10 page biographical account of this person's life, including the smallest details." He smiled again at the groans. "You will be given the rest of the term to complete the assignment, and it will be due two days before final exams."

The groans subsided some. That was plenty of time, unless you were like some people and putthings off until the very last minute.

"Okay," he picked up a stack of papers, neatly stapled and arranged. "When I call your name, come up to the front and collect your packets."

"Marissa Marks and Gregory Bensons." He slowly went down the list, people getting up as they were called. "Isabel Evans and Alex Whitman."

Alex resisted the urge to do a happy dance in the aisle; instead he exchanged a shy smile with Isabel and slowly went to front. Maria rolled her eyes, a pained expression on her pretty face.

"Max Evans and Elizabeth Parker," they smiled at each other, shyly making their way to the front of the aisle. Again Maria groaned inwardly.

"Kyle Valenti and Krista Mallory," Kyle slapped hands with some jock friends and winked at Krista. Krista blushed, tucking a strand of honey blonde hair behind her ear. Maria rolled her eyes.

"Maria DeLuca and Michael Guerin."

"No," they both answered in unison, automatically.

Mr. Kispen blinked. "Well, I'm afraid that you're the last two students on the list. I don't really think you have a choice," he smiled.

Maria melted. "Fine, I'll work with dog breath," she said sweetly.

Michael snorted. "You have a little drool, right there," he brushed the side of his lip.

Maria shrieked in rage, raising her arm and giving him a satisfying whack on the arm.He winced, rubbing it. Maria turned around in her chair, flashing Mr. Kispen a smile. Michael glared at the back of her head again.

"Now that that is...settled," Mr. Kispen cleared his throat. "Let me begin by telling you that you will have little to no library time in my class, which means you will have to work outside of class on this assignment."

"Oh no no no," Maria said, once again drawing attention to herself. "There is no way I'm spending ANY time with that... that THING."

"Very original," Michael said. "Yet another brilliant comeback by Ditzy DeLuca, herself."

"Don't call me that!" Maria whirled on him, her hands going for his throat, but Liz thought fast, grabbing her friend and yanking her back into her seat, shoving a vial of Kisme into her hand.

"Maria," she hissed, red faced. "Calm down."

Maria shot one last cursory glare at him before she uncapped the vial and began to smell. Michael grinned smugly, ignoring the glare Max gave him.

"Yes well..." Mr. Kispen tugged at his collar.

He was spared further commentary by the bell. Whatever he was going to say next was drowned out by the loud whoops and cheers of the end of the day and the slamming of lockers.

"See ya later, Ditzy," Michael pushed past her, jogging out of the room.

Maria fumed, gathering her books. "He is such a JERK!" she said.

Liz shook her head. "I just don't understand you two..." Liz said. "What is it that makes you so angry at each other all the time?"

Maria took a deep breath. "Fine," she said as they began the trek to her locker. "You remember when Michael first moved here?"

Liz nodded her head.

"And you remember when Alex brought him in to the diner to meet us?"

Liz nodded again.

Maria took another breath. "Well, it all started like this..."

*Cue Cheesy Flashback *

Maria flashed a smile at the couple, setting down their order, praying that she had gotten it right. She had only been working for Liz's dad for a few days and she supposed she was finally getting the hang of this waitress thing.

"Will that be all?" Maria said, making sure to keep her smile in check. Not too big, not too forced, just right for a big tip. Enough smile to suggest a friendly demeanor.

"For now, thank you so much," the woman drew her attention away from her husband, returning the smile.

Maria nodded, flouncing away.

The door to the Crashdown jingled and in came Alex, here for his usual discount lunch.

"Maria!" Behind him there was a boy, handsome, taller then Alex but guarded. His hair was the most startling attribute, sticking up every which way like the aftermath of an electrical accident.

"Hey, Alex!" she smiled. "The usual?"

The "usual" was a large Chocolate Saturn Shake, some Freon Fries and a Predator, which was just a fancy name for a doubledecker cheeseburger.

He nodded. "This is Michael Guerin," Alex said. "My dad just sold him an apartment."

The boy looked a little young for an apartment, but appearances weren't everything. "Hey!" she said, turning her brilliant smile on the boy. "I'm Maria." She held out a hand.

He hesitated, but shook it firmly.

"Dad asked me to show him around town," Alex said. "He's going to be starting West Roswell with us."

"That's great!" she said. "I mean, I feel sorry for you and all, this town is totally lame, but I'm sure you'll have a blast. Unless you're the type of person who's all work and no play. Lizzie's like that, but she does have fun sometimes, when she's not working on math or science or some other dull boring subject I can't seem to get the hang off..." Realizing she was rambling, Maria cut herself off, blushing a bright crimson and looking at her toes.

Michael chuckled. "She always talk this much?" he asked, looking at Alex.

"That's why we love her," Alex said.

"So what can I get you?" Maria said, slightly offended that they thought she talked too much. She did, of course, but it still hurt to say it.

"I'll have whatever he's having," Michael shrugged.

"One Saturn Shake, Freon Fries and Predator coming right up," she turned, almost knocking over a stack of cups.

Michael chuckled again. She blushed bright red but went on, towards the kitchen.

After she brought them their shakes she watched the boy, intrigued. He had seemed very stoic, only laughing when he realized just how much she talked, and it hadn't even been a laugh, more like a snort or a chuckle. He talked with Alex, but only when asked a direct question, she could tell it was flustering Alex, who liked every side and opinion to every situation. Alex liked details, he liked to ask questions and he liked to have people answer those questions as detailed as they could. Michael wasn't playing ball.

He was cute though, hell, he was damn gorgeous, she blushed. Tomboy Maria DeLuca actually thinking a member of the opposite sex was cute. The closest she came to a dress was the Crashdown uniform.

"Here you go, cutie," Jose winked at her, sliding the orders to her.

She giggled, blushing again, grabbing the orders and whisking them over to the counter, careful not to spill an ounce of food.

"Here you go," she smiled the Give-Me-A-Big-Tip smile and turned to go.

"Hey wait," Alex said. "You're not going to keep me company today?"

"Well, you have Michael for that," she looked around the restaurant. It was virtually deserted, save for Alex, Michael, and the couple across the way.

"Come on," Alex said. "There's plenty of room."

She smiled, leaning across the counter. Wasting no time in attacking the new guy. "So where'd you move from?" she asked. "Where ya from?"

Michael blinked, looking at her.

"Come on! Details!" Maria said. "Have any deep dark secrets? I'm good at keeping secrets, you know. Cross my heart and hope to die," she made a crisscross over her chest and rolled her eyes back in her head, falling backwards a bit.

Michael blinked again. "Animated," he finally said.

She blushed again, wondering why he could get her so flustered. "You betcha! So what's the dirt? What brings you to Roswell?" she asked.

"I have friends here," he said, satisfied with that question.

"Ooh, who? Do I know them? I might know them. I've lived here all my life, never gone anywhere before."

"Max and Isabel Evans," Michael said.

"Ooh! They were in like 8 of my classes last year! Max is super duper smart and Isabel is way pretty. Everyone says she's snobby though, I don't think she's snobby, I just think she's shy, or maybe she's reserved. She's been that way since I've known her and I don't think you can be born snobby. I think it's just something that sneaks up on you like a cat," she made a paw with her fingers and struck at the air.

Michael blinked again. "Motormouth Maria," he said finally. "I believe that's what I'll call you."

"What?" Maria looked at him, eyes angry.

"Uh-oh," Alex said.

Michael smirked.

"Listen here, you spiky haired electrical storm victim jerk!" she said. "I do NOT have a motormouth!"

"You have a 16 horse power motor mouth," Michael said.

She shrieked, drawing the surprised stares of the couple. The girl had been so sweet earlier.

"I am NOT a motormouth! Kyle calls me that!" she yelled.

Michael looked at Alex for help. "Who's Kyle?"

"Kyle Valenti. Public Enemy Numero Uno," Alex provided.

Michael nodded. "Motormouth Maria," Michael said smugly. "I think I like that."

Maria growled, the tips of her ears turning red. "I do not have a motormouth, I just like to fill in the empty silent spaces," she said, huffing.

"It's awfully silent in your world," Michael observed.

"Why are you so mean? You don't even KNOW me," Maria said. "You just met me!"

Michael shrugged. "You're just easy to get to," he said.

"I am not easy to get to!" Maria prided herself on her ability to counter insults.

"See? You're getting all flustered over a little name," Michael said.

"A little name? A little name!" her voice rose an octave. "Motormouth Maria is almost as bad as Ditzy DeLuca."

This time she got a real laugh. Michael burst out laughing, almost knocking over his milkshake. "I stand corrected," he said, sucking in a breath. "That is much better."

Maria shrieked, flouncing away.

*Cheesy Flash forward to the present *

"That's why you can't stand each other? Over a little name?" Liz said, incredulous.

"No, there was that time he tripped me in the awards ceremony line in ninth grade and showed my flowered Monday underwear to the entire school...there was the time where I tried to run over him with my car because he stole my Kit Kat bar, the way he keeps pulling my hair even though that went out of style in kindergarten, the fact that he keeps leaving that icky Gak stuff in my locker, just because he had it in ninth grade and knows the combination, that time he poured water over my head on Field Day and got me soaked, while I was wearing a white t-shirt, the fact that he feels the need to humiliate me at least twice aday, he keeps calling me stupid names, the time he--"

Liz cut in, fearing for hersanity. "I get it," Liz said. "Bad relations between the two of you."

"He's just so infuriating," Maria said, giving her locker a slam just to spite him.

"Okay," Liz said. "I vote for a subject change."

"Okay," Maria said, grinning mischievously. "You looking forward to working with your dream hunk Max Evans?"

Liz blushed. "He is NOT my dream hunk, Max and I are just friends," Liz said. "Friends.Nothing more."

"Sure you are, Lizzie," Maria rolled her eyes. "Which is why you blush and get all flustered whenever his name is mentioned in casual conversation?"

"I do NOT," Liz said.

"You do too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not! Not! Not!"

"See? You even get into childish arguments over the love of your life." Maria said, skipping off, leaving Liz to stare at her, surprised.

***

Days past quickly, moving from Tuesday to Friday in a blink of an eye, and before she knew it, Maria was looking fearfully at the door of the Crashdown as Isabel Evans entered in all of her Queenlike glory. Beside her, Liz forced a smile.

"Hey!" Isabel waved, crossing the diner to meet them, drawing the stares of gun-toting rednecks and camera-snapping tourists alike.

"Hey," Liz said, trying to be chipper.

Maria offered a halfhearted wave.

"We'll take your car if that's okay?" Isabel asked. "Max needed it to run a last minute errand."

"But he'll be there, right?" Maria asked, hoping that her friend would finally see how attracted she was to the tall serious guy.

Isabel looked at her, curious. "Why, Maria? Got a little crush on Max?" she put on her best teasing smile. "I could put in a good word for you." Isabel almost gagged at the thought.

"Not for me!" Maria laughed. "For Liz! Like I could ever seriously date Max. He's too serious."

Isabel nodded, actually understanding. Her brother and the very quiet Liz Parker would make a cute couple. Both were science geeks, thinking that the way to a successful life was through careful planning and formulas.

Liz blushed, trying for all the world to melt into the counter.

"Yeah, we can take my car," Maria said, holding up her keys. "But I must insist that I drive."

Isabel nodded. "Of course," she said.

And they were off.

***

"Alex!" Maria squealed, jumping at the boy and wrapping her arms around his neck like she hadn't seen him in years.

He smiled, hugging her back, a practiced gesture. "Hey, Maria," he said.

"You got Doritos, right? You know I can't live without Doritos," she said.

"Of course I got Doritos," Alex said, feigning hurt.

"Yay!" she skipped off into his house, which was devoid of parents. They were out of town on business as they usually were.

"Hey, Alex," Liz gave him a much calmer, composed hug.

"Hiya," Alex said. "I got the donuts for you."

She smiled a thank you and went to grab Maria before she broke anything.

"Hi, Alex," Isabel smiled shyly at him for a moment and he did the same.

"Hey, Isabel," he said. "I-I wasn't sure what snack food you liked..."

Isabel broke in. "Oh that's okay," Isabel said. "I'm not much of a snacker."

He looked relieved. "Your brother and Michael are in the kitchen," he said.

"Thanks, I really appreciate you inviting us."

"No problem," Alex tried to appear casual.

"I better go stop Maria from killing Michael..." she said.

He nodded, entranced. She smiled again, moving away.

There was a shriek from the kitchen. "Too late."

***

"You invited Spaceboy!" Maria glared at Alex, hurt in her eyes.

Michael shoved his hands into his pockets once more, leaning back slightly, a smirk on his face. "Not happy to see me, Ditzy?" he asked jovially.

"Never," she growled.

"Ahh," Michael pretended to look hurt. "You're killing me."

"Not yet," Maria countered.

Michael actually looked scared for a moment. Never underestimate the power of a DeLuca gone mad.

"Can we PLEASE get along?" Isabel said, stepping between the two.

"Look, Michael, behave yourself."

"Me?" Michael said. "What about her?"

Isabel looked pleadingly at Maria. "Please? Just be civil," Isabel said.

"Fine," Maria sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest and turning her faceaway.

"Fine," Michael growled, glaring at the girl.

"Now shake."

Michael stuck out his hand, and Maria reluctantly gave up hers. He grabbed it, shaking it. She gripped it hard and he gripped it back.

"Oh god," Liz said. "They're playing mercy..."

Maria wasn't giving up. She bent his hand backwards, twisting it just slightly, but Michael was stronger and he countered, bending her own wrist back.

She cried out. "Mercy! Mercy!"

He didn't let up. "Not until you say Michael is the coolest."

She winced, still squirming from the pain. "Michael is the coolest!" she said finally, after a moment's hesitation. He let her go.

She glared at him. "It's really sad when the only thing that boosts your ego is that."

"Dammit," Isabel said. "Can't you at least act like grownups?" "How? Nothing on Michael has ever grown," she looked meaningfully down at his crotch.

He growled and made a move to lunge at her, but Max grabbed him. "We're playing poker," Max said. "Now."

***

Five games later everyone was tapped but Michael, Maria, and Alex. Liz and Max sat across the room, talking about some science or the other, and Isabel watched the game with an avid interest, concentrating more on Alex than the game itself.

"Jesus, DeLuca, you better lay off those Doritos," Michael said, looking at his cards. "They'll go straight to your hips."

Just to spite she took a handful, shoving one in her mouth and biting down hard. He rolled his eyes.

Maria smiled at her cards, not really caring about the value of a good bluff. Michael however, remained stoic, and Alex looked kind of impassive.

"I see your 10 dollars," Maria said, shoving some chips into the middle of the table. "And raise you 20." Maria looked at him.

"Fine," he said, teeth clenched. "I see your twenty." He shoved his remaining chips into the pile.

Instead of stopping, like he was supposed to when he ran out of chips, Michael reached into his pocket. "And raise you, my car." He tossed the keys onto the middle of the table.

The room fell silent. Liz and Max's conversation halted and they snapped their gazes to the table. Isabel's mouth fell open, and Alex tried to breathe.

Maria gasped. "That's not fair!" she wailed. "My car isn't worth nearly as much as yours!" Maria brooded. Hell, her house wasn't worth that much. Michael's Dodge Viper was the shit. Black with a white racing stripe, a spoiler in the back to give it that sports car edge, leather seating, air conditioning and a killer sound system.

"Fine," Michael said. "I guess you lose."

"Oh no, I don't," Maria said. She looked at Liz for help.

Isabel's eyes lit up. "Ooh!" she scurried around the table, cupping her hand to Maria's ear, whispering.

Maria's eyes lit up. "I bet myself," she reached around her neck, taking off her gold necklace that proclaimed her name Maria in curvy cursive letters and set it down in the middleof the table.

Michael scoffed. "Like YOU would ever be worth my car," he laughed.

She actually looked hurt by that one. He regretted it instantly, but his pride refused to apologize.

"She'll be your slave for a week," Isabel said.

"Two," Michael said.

"Deal," Maria said. They shook, sparks flying between their hands and giving them pause.

"Let's see your hand first," Isabel said to Maria.

Maria laid her cards down. Three aces and two kings, a high Full House.

Michael didn't smile, he didn't frown, he just calmly laid down his cards.

"Holy shit," Alex breathed.

Liz jumped up. "What he get?" she asked.

"I have never in my life actually seen one of those," Isabel said, awed.

"What he get?" Liz asked again.

Maria looked up, eyes wide, lip trembling. "A Royal Flush..."

***

"No," Maria shook her head. "No way."

Michael grinned. "You promised," he snatched up her necklace. "Now you belong to me." All that was missing was the maniacal evil villain laugh.

"I will NOT be your slave," Maria growled. "Not in a million years."

"Maria," Liz said softly. "You have to."

"I do not!" she yelled. "It was a stupid game anyway." She glared at him, eyes burning with unshed tears.

Michael blinked, was she actually crying? Was the thought of spending even a little time with him that revolting?

"I hope you're happy." She whirled, grabbing her jacket and her purse. The door slammed hard behind her and Michael winced, looking down at the golden necklace in his hand.

"I'll talk to her," Liz said, sighing.

"Dammit," Isabel growled. "My purse was in her car."

***

Half of Saturday passed without incident, and Maria took it as a sign. Perhaps Michael had given up on the entire slave thing. Her mother had left for a week long sci-fi con called GlobaCon in Nevada, packing enough alien merchandise to fill a small third world country with happiness. It was always something, some kind of Convention in some stupid city that was far away from home, or some kind of business or craft class.

She sat there watching cartoons on the Cartoon Network, in her cotton pajamas with the pixies on them, a bowl of Reese's Puffs in her lap. She was peaceful, her hair neatly combed down, her teeth brushed, but nothing else had much changed between sleep and her Saturday morning ritual.

She was enjoying the ninth rerun of Scooby Doo when she heard a sharp rap at the door. She grunted, setting her bowl down on the coffee table, mentally hearing her mother's sharp voice: "Don't do that, it scratches the wood." And she padded across the room inRainbow Brite slippers.

The knock came again. "I'm coming!" she huffed, unlatching the three locks. Her mother was super paranoid. "Keep you pants on!"

The door swung up, and immediately slammed. Michael Guerin stood outside her door, leaning against the railing of her front porch.

The knock came again. "Go away," Maria growled through the wood, leaning back against the door.

"You can't tell me what to do," Michael said good-naturedly. "That's my job."

"Shut up!" Maria snapped. "It was a stupid game anyway."

"A stupid game that you lost!" Michael replied. "So fine. If you want to be a sore loser..."

That was it, that was the last straw, no one called her a sore loser. She ripped open the door, coming nose to nose with Satan himself. "I am NOT a sore loser," she snapped.

He held up her necklace. She reached for it, but he snapped it back. "See that? That means you belong to me," he said, stepping past her into her house. "Nice."

She glared at him. "This is trespassing."

He shrugged.

"That would be just like you." She glared. "Breaking a law just to spite me."

"I don't think I would go that far," Michael said. "If I was going to break a law to spite you, I'd do something big," he leaned closer, breath hot on her ear. "I'd probably have to kill you."

She stepped back, startled. He looked at her, from head to toe. "Cute," his eyes went to the Reese's Puffs. "Got any more of those?"

He didn't give her time to answer; he just scooped up the box, digging his hand in. "You might want to get dressed," he popped some cereal into his mouth.

She growled, whirling. "Don't touch ANYTHING," she said, storming down the hall to her room.

He grabbed the remote, plopping down on the couch. "Hey, Gundam Wing..." he settled down, eating Reese's Pieces and watching the wonder that is Japanese Anime.

***

Maria paced in her room, wondering how to get rid of him. She could climb out the window...but the bushes might tear her pajamas. She could sneak out the back door, but knowing him he'd probably catch her and rub her face into it.

Lizzie had called her last night, giving her a comprehensive list of all the reasons why she should go through with this bet. The only one that actually seemed like it might work had been, "You'll have the chance to get him back." And that had been said out of desperation on Liz's part she was sure.

Maria shrugged, pulling on her khaki skirt and a baby blue button down 3\4 sleeve. Fine, she could play his little game; maybe pull some pranks on him.

She shoved a Ziploc bag full of Gak, gotten from her locker into her black messenger bag, then some super glue, not sure what she would need that for, and a pair of handcuffs, commandeered from the police station when her mom was dating the Sheriff, and pulled on a pair of white shoes sans socks.

A brush through her hair, two baby blue clips on each side, a dab of mascara and some lip gloss later and she was ready to go.

She stepped out of the room, glaring at the back of his spiky head. "I'm dressed *master *," she sneered.

He turned around. "Master," he rubbed his chin. "I like that."

She sighed.

"Come on," he said, putting the Reese's down on the table.

"I have stuff for you to do."

***

"Wait out here," he commanded, pointing to the hallway.

"What?" Maria huffed. "But I want to see your apartment."

"Not yet," he said. "I just need to change and then we'll go."

"Go where?"

"Work."

She looked at him a moment before he stepped inside, quickly closing the door before she could see inside.

The reason he didn't want to invite her in was not to be rude as Maria imagined, but rather the fact that his apartment was neat. We're not just talking clean, we're talking borderline obsessive-compulsive neat. He didn't want her to see how clean his apartment was, because tomorrow he would be dirtying it up just for her.

He changed quickly into his business suit, tying the tie expertly and slipping into shiny designer shoes.

"Jesus," Maria whispered, mouth dropping open when she saw him. "You're so...so..."

"Devastatingly handsome?" he smirked.

"I was going for different," she rolled her eyes. "What's the occasion?"

"Like I said. I have to go to work," he motioned for her to follow.

"Well then, I guess you won't be needing me," she tried to walk past him; he grabbed her wrist, sending sparks up their arms.

"We had a deal," he said.

She huffed. "Fine," she growled. "Lead on."

***

She had seen Intercorp thousands of times from the outside, a huge black shiny skyscraper that took her breath away whenever she passed it. She had never been inside it however, and it was just as breathtaking inside as out. Black marble, gray desks, computer terminals, all totally spotless and shiny, cavernous. If it wasn't for Michael she surely would have been lost, never to see the outdoor sagain.

He led her down a million halls, taking her into a million elevators, until finally he opened a large oak door with the words M. Guerin written in gold lettering.

"You have your own office!" she squealed. "But you're my age."

"What does that tell you about yourself?" Michael raised an eyebrow.

She glared at him.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Guerin."

Maria jumped, whirling around. The woman was seated at a cherry oak desk, a computer to her left, files stacked miles high to her right, a few simple pictures of a Brady Bunch family. She was pretty, mid-40's, with chestnut brown hair and flashing green eyes, a wonderful smile that she turned on Maria instantly. "And who is this?" she said. "A girlfriend perhaps?" The only thing missing was a very loud HINT HINT.

Michael smiled. "No, Ms. Bancroft, I doubt Maria would do me the pleasure."

Maria looked at him, surprised, but he wasn't looking at her, he was taking files from Ms. Bancroft. He was like a whole different person here.

"I was wondering," Michael said. "Do you have any tedious office work she could amuse herself with?" This Michael talked differently too. It was very disturbing.

"Always! I'll bring it right in," Ms. Bancroft looked more than happy to give up some of her work; from the looks of her desk she had enough of it.

Michael motioned for Maria to follow. "I am not a dog," she hissed, closing the door behind her.

"That's debatable," Michael said, not looking up from the files.

Maria huffed, crossing her arms across her chest and glared at him. He didn't seem to notice,or care.

"Here they are!" Ms. Bancroft entered, three stacks of paper balancing amazingly enough in only two hands, a stapler on top of that.

"Get her started," Michael said. "I have things to do."

He laid the files on hisdesk, shrugging out of his jacket and hanging it on the back of his very professional looking office chair. He pushed the sleeves of his shirt up to his forearms and sat down, switching the computer on.

Maria stared at him for a second. He was so natural here, composed, tedious and utterly boring. She didn't like this Michael very much. Not that she liked the other Michael either.

"All you have to do is put them together like this," Ms. Bancroft said, showing her the order in which the papers were to go. "Then staple. Put them in a pile and you can give them to me when you're done." She smiled. "I can't thank you enough, dear."

Maria smiled. "It's no problem. Really," she said.

Michael looked up, staring at her a moment. Why couldn't she just look at him that way? With genuine sincerity? Perhaps she did. Sincere anger anyway.

Ms. Bancroft left, shutting the door behind her and leaving the two alone. Maria arranged herself on the floor, laying out on her stomach, facing Michael, feet bent at the knees and pointing straight up, rocking back and forth.

Michael looked up again. She was so cute. She chewed on her lower lip in concentration, as if the little busy work he had given her could hold the cure for cancer. With her legs kicking back and forth like that, she reminded him of a three year old.

He smiled, shaking his head. He didn't hate her, he had never hated her, not in the million years they had been fighting. It was like in fourth grade. You see a girl you like; you pull her hair, or insult her as the case may be. It was sad really, this harbored crush, and the defenses he put up, the way he KEPT insulting her!, even though he was pretty sure the 4th graders grew out of it and started actually DATING the girls they insulted.

He turned to the screen. It was official. Michael Guerin was in love with Maria DeLuca, if only she would realize it...

***

"Here you are," he leaned against her porch again. "See you same time tomorrow? My apartment? Around 11?"

She eyed him. "I have to work," she said. "Crashdown. Remember?"

"No you don't," he smiled. "I talked to Mr. Parker."

She looked at him. Eyes wide. "What did you say to him?" she asked. "If you got me fired, so help me GOD..."

He laughed. "Relax!" He shook his head. "You have the worst temper, you know that?"

"I do NOT have a temper!"

He looked at her. "I simply told Mr. Parker you'd be taking the week off," he shrugged.

"You did WHAT?!" Maria said. "I don't have that kind of vacation time!"

"Cool it, I said you'd make it up by working on your days off for two weeks," he shrugged. "This was more important."

"I cannot believe you!" Maria said, pushing his chest. "You think you can just waltz into my life and mold it to shape YOUR schedule? I'm working tomorrow whether YOU like it or not. You may have won that stupid poker game but you will NEVER get me to follow through with it. Keep the stupid necklace, see if I care," she turned.

"I thought we had a deal," he said, softly.

"Screw the deal, and get off of my property!" She slammed the door behind her, throwing the three bolts. "Stupid jerk..." she grumbled.

Michael sighed. He had blown it. Again. Though this time he wasn't really sure HOW he had blown it, he had just blown it. He looked at her door, debating whether he should knock or not, and deciding against it. With his luck she might throw some kind of sharp object at him.

He shoved his hands into his pockets once more, walking down the stairs, thinking fondly of the peaceful Maria from his office.

***

He paced his apartment, angry. She hadn't shown. Sure, she had said she wouldn't come, but dammit, they had had a deal. She had lost the game fair and square. No cheating whatsoever on his part. Didn't that mean anything to her? Anything at all?

Probably not. She hated him with a fiery passion, like a stupid little game a few days in his company meant anything to her. He growled, grabbing his leather jacket and his keys. If she wasn't going to come to him, then he would go to her.

***

Liz gave him a questioning smile when he entered. He waved, looking around the diner for Maria. She wasn't serving customers, Liz had that handled, she wasn't manning the register, Mr. Parker was working on that, and she wasn't with Jose.That left one place.

He stormed across the restaurant, towards the employees lounge. Recently Mr. Parker had installed a brand-new Pac-Man game, gotten on discount. It was the only way the employees could relax on the two 20 minute breaks they got each work day, not to mention he knew it to be fact Maria was addicted to the game, all of this info thanks to his frequent visits to the Crashdown.

Sure enough there she was, bent over the controls, biting her lip in concentration as she steered Pac Man around the level, avoiding multi-colored ghosts and rushing for cherries.

He smiled evilly, and slowly crept into the back room. He leaned down, and in one fluid motion wrapped his arms around her waist.

She gasped and straightened up.

"I thought we had an arrangement," he whispered softly into her hair.

She shivered. Unfortunately, Pac was left stranded and was attacked by a red ghost. GAME OVER, flashed onto the screen.

"You made me lose my game!" she yelled angrily. But she didn't pull away.

He chuckled. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a quarter, bringing it around to her face. "Here, play again, on me."

She hit his hand, knocking the quarter away; it rolled under the machine, never to be seen again. "What are you doing here?" she squirmed in his grasp, but froze when his fingers began to play with the fabric of her shirt at her tiny waist.

"Like I said, I thought we had a deal," he said.

She pulled away, turning around, unconsciously stepping closer. "The deal's off," she snapped.

"Hmm...I suppose we could forget about the deal," his hand reached out, rubbing up her arm. "But I'd need some kind of compensation...a family heirloom, perhaps? Something that's been in your family for years..."

He smiled inwardly when she gasped. His fingers continued their trek up her arms, brushing lightly against the skin and sending shivers down her spine.

"You wouldn't," she said, fighting to keep her eyes open.

He stepped closer, their bodies almost molded together. "No, I don't suppose I would," he whispered into her hair, fingers moving to the small of her back.

Her eyes won the battle, falling closed. He reached into his pocket, drawing something out and pressing it into her hand, closing her fingers around it.

Leaning down, he put his lips to her ear. "You're free."

He couldn't take it anymore. He was too close. He leaned down, capturing his lips on the soft skin of her neck, tasting the salty flesh and smelling in the sweet flower scent of her skin.

His eyes snapped open. He couldn't do this, she wasn't his. He pulled back, quickly bolting from the room.

Maria's eyes snapped open. What the hell was that? She looked around. Michael was gone; she went to the door, pushing it open. He wasn't in the main restaurant either.

She looked down into her hand. Her necklace, he had given her back her necklace.

She stormed up front, grabbing her friend and whirling her around. "Liz," she said. "I need the rest of the day off.."

***

"I am such a moron!" Michael said.

Max jumped, startled. Michael had never entered through the actual door. "Huh?" Max said. "Why are you a moron this time?"

"Maria," Michael said.

Max nodded, understanding. He had known for some time about his friend's harbored crush on the girl. Sure he was hiding it well, but if you looked really close, if you looked at his eyes when he was glaring at her you could see a flicker of something more.

"What did you do to Maria?" Max asked. "Oh god, Michael, tell me you didn't. Sexual assault is against the law."

"I didn't sexually assault her," Michael plopped down on the bed, thinking a minute. "Well, not a lot anyway."

"What did you do?" Max asked.

"Nothing much, kissed her neck..." Michael said.

"Jesus, what did I tell you about self-control?" Max said.

"I don't have any?" Michael asked, confused, sitting up slightly.

"So I guess the master/slave thing didn't work out too well?" Max asked, tossing the notebook he was writing in for the project onto his desk.

"Let's just say it's not like the porno flick," Michael muttered.

"Too bad for you," Max rolled his eyes.

"I made a complete fool of myself," Michael said.

Max shrugged. "Oh well,"

Michael sat up part way again, looking at him. "You're not going to offer any words of encouragement?"

"Go get 'em champ?" Max tried helplessly.

Michael sighed, falling back on the bed. "I tried to be nice to her, but it's just so HARD."

"Funny, doesn't seem like it could be too much of a challenge," Max rolled his eyes.

"You haven't spent the last 4 years being mean to her," Michael said. "I mean you just completely ignore the girl you're in love with."

Max turned red. "And who is that?" he asked slowly.

"Liz Parker, duh," Michael rolled his eyes. "You've been after that girl since time began. I don't see why you don't just go for it. I mean, she'll date you."

"How do you know?" Max asked. "You talk to her?"

"No," Michael shrugged. "It's just obvious."

"Not as obvious as necking with her..." Max muttered.

"That only happened one time! And it won't happen again.." Michael said gruffly. "Maria probably won't talk to me."

"She might yell at you," Max said brightly.

Michael made a woohoo motion with his hand.

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Michael?" He shot up.

Max swiveled to the door. There she stood, looking around the room uncertainly. "Thought I'd find you here," she said, offering a small smile.

"Did you want something?" he asked, hoping it didn't come out sounding as gruff as it had in his head. It did, but who noticed?

"Yeah," she motioned for him to follow her. "Hey, Max. Cool poster. Liz has onejust like it." She pointed to Einstein.

Max waved and ducked his head to hide the blush, and Michael gave him a "See-I-Told-You-So" look before following her out.

He closed the door behind him and leaned against the wall. "So what's up?" he asked carefully, hoping she would start in with the verbal abuse right away.

"You were right."

He blinked, startled, he hadn't been expecting THAT.

"A deal is a deal, and I lost. Simple as that. I'll still be your slave, that is--" she looked up meekly. "--if you want me to be?"

Michael resisted the urge to yell HELL YES, and kiss her. "Okay," he shrugged. Way to play it cool.

"Cool," she smiled. "I'll talk to Mr. Parker and see if we can arrange something."

He nodded.

"Oh, and here," she reached into the pocket of her rather odd looking parka and pressed the object into his palm. "I'll see you at school tomorrow."

She fled down the stairs, the door slamming behind her with a quick "Bye Mrs. Evans!"

He looked down at his hand, amazed; resting there was the necklace, Maria written in bright gold script.

Continued next page...

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