(continued from previous)

***

"So...you and Isabel, huh?" He was trying to sound casual.

"What about us?"

Max pulled on his tuxedo jacket and turned around to look at Michael who was sitting on the windowsill, his foot swinging back and forth nonchalantly as he looked out the window and up at the moon. "Are you two together?"

Michael glanced at him disinterestedly. "Don't be stupid, Maximillian. Sheís like my sister." A muscle in his jaw twitched and he looked back out the window somewhat guiltily. Max caught the look and went over to him. He leaned against the window frame.

"Look, if you guys are...interested in each other...I mean, it's fine with me...It'll be a little weird at first but, y'know..."

"Max. I am not interested in Isabel. She is not interested in me."

"I mean, it just looked like the two of you were..."

"Max. Drop it. Nothing is going on with me and Isabel."

Max paused, watching him, then shrugged. "Whatever you say." He went to sit down on the bed, and began putting on his shoes. "So are you coming or not?"

Silence.

"Everyone really wants you to..."

"Well, in that case, sign me up..." he mumbled sarcastically.

"You're really not going?"

"All signs point to 'No'..."

Max sighed and finished tying his shoes. He sat there for a moment looking at his friend. "You can hang out here if you want..."

"Thanks."

Max stood and went to the door. "Last chance..."

"Get outta here, Max."

"G'nite, Michael."

"Yeah."

Michael flopped down on the bed and pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes. He didn't know why he felt so stressed out. It wasn't because Isabel knew. After he had left her and gone home to just think he had felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Lying there in the darkness of his room all alone he realized that he had wanted Isabel to know all along. He had always wanted to tell her, but had pushed the urge deep down inside him and tried to forget about it. Because it wouldn't change anything. He would still be alone. And Max would be hurt. He would feel guilty, because Max always felt guilty. Even though it wasn't his fault, Max would feel responsible for his and Isabel's separation. Michael didn't want that. Max had enough problems with Liz, whether he realized them yet or not.

But telling Isabel had changed something. He felt comforted, he felt...less alone. And Max would never know. Isabel wouldn't tell him. She promised.

So why did he feel so...wrong inside?

An image passed in front of his eyes. A girl with blond hair...amazing eyes that you could lose yourself in if you weren't careful...full soft lips, gentle and insistent on his...

He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He did not want to think of Maria...

Maria was his problem.

He swallowed. He didn't understand why he couldn't just let her go...why she haunted him.

She was infuriating. She talked too much. She drove him crazy. She thought she knew him. She got under his skin, made him want, made him feel things he had no right feeling about a human. She made him want to start something he knew he could never finish.

If he let himself get involved, if he let himself want her...he'd want to stay. He couldn't do that. He wouldn't do that.

They were so much closer to home now then they had ever been before, they knew more than they had ever known. And all he could think about was that he would miss her if he lost her.

"You never had her," he mumbled to himself, still staring up at the ceiling. You don't want her. You don't need her. You don't care.

He wondered who she was there with tonight.

You don't care...

He turned his head towards Maxís open closet. He had a suit in there. His "Men In Black" thing from the Crashdown Festival in September. Michael got up from the bed and reached inside the closet. He pulled out the suit. Isabel didn't have a date. She said she was counting on him to change his mind. He put the suit back in the closet, then took it out again.

What am I doing? he groaned at himself.

He was putting on the suit.

Not because it meant he would see Maria, or who she was with, but because Isabel wanted him to. He was doing a favor for his sister. His sister.

And there was something he wanted to tell her. He had been wrong about what he had told her in his dream, that she had chosen Max over him. That was wrong. It hadn't been her choice that kept them apart, that kept him alone. It had been his. He had chosen to be a coward. He had chosen to run.

He realized suddenly that he was doing the same thing with Maria. He was running away from her when all he really wanted to do, if he was honest with himself, was to go to her, to stop running, and tellher. It took him years to tell Isabel the truth. He wondered how long it would take to tell Maria.

***

I close my door at night
But they get in all right
And she turns on the light...

"Have I told you yet how beautiful you are?" Liz laughed and lifted her head from Max's shoulder to look at him.

I held her hands so tight
'Cause words don't come out right
And she sees things at night...

"When I opened the door you told me, in the car on the way here you told me, when you asked me to dance you told me..."

He smiled and held her a little tighter.

Me, I'm closer to the door
I don't get scared no more
But I don't know the score...

"I don't just mean tonight."He pressed his lips against her hair, and she could feel his breath gently kiss the top of her ear. "You're a beautiful person, Liz...and I'm...I'm really happy here with you."

"Me too, Max."

If I could hold them in my hand
I'd make them understand
I'm not a haunted mind
I'm not a thoughtless kind...

Isabel sat alone at the table they had picked near the door watching Alex and Maria. She had already turned down seven boys in the past half-hour. She didn't want to dance with any of them.

She caught Alex's eye over Maria's shoulder and he looked away quickly.

If I could put them in a jar
I know they wouldn't scar
I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would...

He had avoided looking in her direction the entire ride over, and had made sure he wasn't sitting next to her at the table. If she was honest with herself, she would admit that she was a little hurt by it.

Yeah, well, honesty is overrated...

Isabel played with the strap of her purse lying on the table. She had hurt him. She deserved whatever he wanted to give her or not give her. She looked up and caught his eye again. He looked really nice tonight.

Alex turned Maria so his back was to Isabel. She looked so amazing, he actually felt a physical pain in his chest when he looked at her. She made it hard for him to breathe. She had smiled at him in the car and he had barely squeaked out a 'hi' before focusing all his attention on whatever happened to be outside the car window.

He wanted to ask her to dance.

He was almost willing to sacrifice himself on the alter of embarrassment on the slim chance she'd say, "I'd love to, Alex, I was hoping you'd ask..."

I close my door at night
But she gets in all right
So I turn on the light...

"Alex just ask her..." Maria mumbled against his shoulder and he swept her around in a dramatic circle, complete with a full dip. She giggled despite herself.

I held her hand too tight
Too hard to make it right
So I could sleep at night...

"Nope." He spun her again. "I am dahncing with Mademoiselle Maria in case you haven't noticed...The most bee-utiful girl here..."

"Oh yeah, I'm a goddess..."

"You are, Ms. Deluca--- the goddess of the Winter Dance. You could have had your pick tonight and yet you chose me..."

She giggled again and he smiled.

If I could hold them in my hand
I'd make them understand
I'm not a haunted mind
I'm not a thoughtless kind...

Alex kissed her cheek and gave her a hug, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Thanks for coming here with me tonight, Alex..."

"No problemo... I'm glad I--"

"But," she cut him off, "I'm not the one you want to be with..."

If I could put them in a jar
I know they wouldn't scar
I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would...

Alex was quiet and she hugged him back.

"Go ahead, buddy. Ask her..."

"What makes you think she would want to dance with me?"

I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would...

"Women's intuition. Besides, as I predicted, you look fabulous in a tux..."

I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would...

"Okay..." Alex took a deep breath.

"You gonna do it?"

"I'm thinking about it..."

"Don't think-- Do."

I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would...

She gave him a friendly shove as the song ended, and turned to see where Liz and Max went. Michael was standing by the door alone, searching the crowd.

She froze, staring at him, watching the blue twinkling lights throw magnetic patterns across his face and his wild, wild, hair.

And then he saw her.

***

Michael took a deep breath and stepped into the gym. He had to admit it looked really nice. They had hung blue and white icicle lights from the ceiling and swaths of fabric along the walls in matching gauze, and of course there was the ever-present crepe paper dripping from the basketball hoops.

Next to the dance floor there were clusters of tables with royal blue tablecloths decorated with strands of tinsel. It was like being in an ice cave. He scanned the crowd, looking for Isabel, and was about to go search the table area when he saw her

I am milk...
I am red-hot kitchen...
And I am cool...
Cool as the deep blue ocean...

Maria stood facing him in the middle of the dance floor, her skin shimmering like liquid, the lights sliding up and down her body as they swayed in the breeze.

I am lost...
So I am cruel...
But I'd be love and sweetness...
If I had you...

Everything seemed to slow down around them, everyone seemed to disappear.

I'm waiting...
I'm waiting for you...

He had never seen anything so beautiful in his entire life... the stars were nothing compared to her tonight. He was transfixed.

I'm waiting...
I'm waiting for you...

Michael took a step towards her feeling like he was being pulled, feeling like he had that night outside the Crashdown during the heat wave, feeling drawn to her. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't see anything else but her...

I am weak...
But I am strong...
I can use my tears to...
Bring you home...

He wanted to put his arms around her, wanted to touch her skin and see if it was as soft as he remembered. It struck him suddenly that he hadn't really seen her for days. He had avoided it. And now here she was... looking at him like she had that night, her lips parted and waiting...

I'm waiting...
I'm waiting for you...

Another step and suddenly she was in his arms.

I'm waiting...
I'm waiting for you...

Her hands were on either side of his face, her thumb gently brushing across his lower lip. His own hands were clasped behind her back, holding her to him, crushing the thin material of her dress between his fingers.

I'm waiting...
I'm waiting for you...

He kissed her, slow and deep. He kissed her the way he'd been aching to kiss her for days...

"Michael!"

Michael's head snapped up at the sound of Isabel's voice. He blinked. Maria was still watching him from the middle of the dance floor, and he was still standing, locked in place near the door.

I am milk...
I am red-hot kitchen...

"I must say I'm surprised you caved!"

And I am cool...
Cool as the deep blue ocean...

Isabel took him by the arm and led him to the floor. He put his arms around her, grateful for the interruption. Another moment and he really would have went to Maria. Another moment and he really would have...

Don't think about it.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting for you...

"Isabel... I have to tell you something..."

Don't look at her, don't look at her...

I'm waiting...
I'm waiting for you...

But he couldn't help it.

Maria looked like she had been slapped.

She turned away quickly when he met her gaze and almost ran into Greg Duffy. He grinned at her and said something Michael couldn't hear. Maria shook her head and stumbled off the floor towards the doors.

I'm waiting...
I'm waiting for you...

He felt his heart tighten in his chest, and turned to face Isabel.

I'm aching...
I'm aching for you...

"Go on," she whispered, her hands sliding off his shoulders.

I'm waiting...

"I do have to tell you something..."

"It can wait."

I'm waiting...

"It's important."

"She's waiting for you, Michael."

I'm waiting...
For you...

Isabel smiled and gave him a little push, just as Maria had done for Alex. But instead of getting halfway there before chickening out and heading for the punch bowl like Alex had done, Michael ran away from the floor and pushed through the doors after Maria.

Isabel smiled again softly. She hoped he caught her.

"Uh...Isabel?"

She turned at the sound of Alex's voice, and he stood before her nervously, his hands in his pockets.

"Do you... want to dance?"

"I'd love to... I was hoping you'd ask."

"You...You were?" Alex carefully put his arms around her waist.

He couldn't believe he was dancing with Isabel Evans. He couldn't believe he was touchingIsabel Evans...

"Yeah..." She dropped her arms over his shoulders and moved in closer to him.

You know it only breaks my heart
to see you standing in the dark
alone
waiting there for me
to come back
I'm too afraid to show
If it's coming over you
Like it's coming over me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave
That drags me out to sea
And I wanna be with you
If you wanna be with me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave
And I don't wanna be
Stranded...
Stranded...
Stranded...
Stranded...

"I wanted to apologize about the Rave..."

Alex looked at the floor, suddenly fascinated by it. "No... no, it's okay...you were scared."

"I wasscared..." She looked up at him. "I meant what I said though... about feeling like I could trust you...I just had to be sure you weren't going to say anything to Valenti..."

"I understand... you don't have to apologize."

"Yes, I do. I should have been straight with you. I'm sorry I wasn't... but I'm glad you're here now... with us..."

She hugged him gently, and rested her head against his shoulder. Alex hoped she couldn't feel his heart pounding under her cheek.

I can only take so much
These tears are turning me to rust
I know
You're waiting there for me
To come back
I'm too afraid to show
If it's coming over you
Like it's coming over me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave
That drags me out to sea
And I wanna be with you
If you wanna be with me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave
And I donít wanna be
Stranded...
Stranded...
Stranded...
Stranded...

"Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to be so careful with me...I'm not going to break." Isabel stepped back from Alex's loose embrace. "Unless... unless you're afraid of me..." She tried to make it come off as a joke, but she couldn't stop the quiver of fear that resonated slightly in her voice.

Alex's grip tightened a little around her waist. "I'm not afraid of you, Isabel. Why would I be?"

She bit her lip. "Because I'm different...because I'm--"

"You're beautiful." Alex said it honestly, forgetting to be embarrassed, forgetting to censor himself. "No matter where you're from or what you are...you're beautiful...inside and out...I could never be afraid of you."

Isabel smiled at him, her eyes shining, and rested her head back against him. "Thanks, Alex."

"Hey, thank you for dancing with me..."

"Any time..."

I miss you
I need you
without you
Iím stranded
I love you
So come back
I'm not afraid to show...

They danced together under the lights and the streamers. Alex had to keep reminding himself to breathe, and Isabel wondered at the fact that she felt so comfortable in his awkward embrace.

If it's coming over you
And it's coming over me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave
that drags me out to sea
And I wanna be with you
If you wanna be with me
Crashing like a tidal wave
I donít wanna be
Stranded...
Stranded...
Stranded...
Stranded...
Oh baby I miss you...
Oh baby I need you...
Oh baby I love you...
so baby come back...

***

"Maria!" Michael trotted down the empty hallway after her, but she kept going. He called her name again and started running. She didn't stop until he reached out and touched her arm. "Didn't you hear me?"

"No," she lied and looked down at the floor.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know. Somewhere else." She started to turn and walk away from him again, then stopped after a few steps, with her head down. "You know...I may have fooled myself into believing we were together...but I thought we were at least friends..."

He took a step towards her and she turned around, angry.

"You are such a jerk! You could have been honest with me! You could have told me why you were really dumping me!"

Michael stared at her. "I did tell you why."

"Bullshit! How stupid do you think I am?! Did you really think I wouldn't notice if you started going out with someone else right after breaking up with me?!"

Michael's head was spinning, he didn't know what she was talking about. He didn't know what else to do, so he lashed out.

"How could we have 'broken up' if we werenít even dating?"

He would have gotten the same effect if he had socked her.

She was silent for a moment, staring at him and trying not to cry, before asking evenly, "Just what...do you think...was going on between us then?"

"I don't know what it was...it was nothing..."

"Nothing?!" Maria exploded and shoved him angrily. "I almost had sex with you and it was nothing?!"

"I didn't mean...I don't know what I mean! I don't know what it was! It was something that was happening that had to be stopped...I told you I can't get involved." He blinked at the pleading tone in his own voice.

"You can get involved-- just not with me!"

"Who exactly do you think I'm 'involving' myself with?"

"Hel-lo... Max told Liz--"

Shit

"--that you and Isabel were...were..." Maria stopped with a quick intake of breath and looked away from him, coming to a realization.

"Isabel..." she whispered. "I'm being stupid...Of course...you and Isabel...it makes sense. She's the only one that you would want...she's like you...she understands you in a way that I could never..."

She swallowed and looked up at him, still trying desperately not to cry in front of him. "I thought I could...I thought I did understand a part of you...but Iím not enough..."

He stood before her, speechless. He wanted to run to her and put his arms around her and tell her she was wrong. That she was more than enough for him...that she was everything he never knew until now he wanted...he needed.

"I'm just wondering how long it took you to realize you didn't want a...a human,"she continued. "Was it before we started 'not-dating'? During? After? What? Were you just experimenting? Is that it?!" She was getting angrier and angrier, her cheeks flushing and her hands balling into fists at her sides. "And there I was thinking that you actually cared..."

He reached out to her, his fingers grazing her arm before she twisted away from him.

"Donít touch me!" She turned and ran into the girls bathroom. He walked up to the door and stared at the broken Girls sign.

Yeah, that's really gonna stop me... He pushed open the door and was about to go through when a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Mr. Guerin, what do you think you're doing?"

The Principal.

Of course.

"I gotta go..."

"Wrong door, son."

***

Max and Liz walked side by side, holding hands, making one fist which swung between them as they made their way down the cracked sidewalk sparkling in the moonlight. Max lifted their hands and kissed her knuckles as they came to her door.

"I had a good time..."

Max kissed her knuckles again, holding them to his lips, and smiling against them. "Me too... I always have a good time when I'm with you, Liz."

Liz smiled and pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him, pressing her face against his chest and breathing him in. Her heart was singing.

Suddenly she thought of Maria and realized she hadn't seen her for awhile. She hadn't seen Isabel or Alex either.

"Max...what happened to everyone?"

"Isabel drove Alex home," he mumbled against her hair.

"And Maria?"

Max pulled back slightly, and swept her hair back from her face, frowning. "I haven't seen her..."

Liz bit her lip. She was a little worried. "I should probably call her."

Max nodded, gazing into her eyes. "Yeah."

She reached up and curled her fingers into his hair. "I'm going to go... and Iím gonna call her...but I can't leave until you kiss me."

"That's not fair...you've got me trapped..."

She smiled and traced his cheekbone with her finger. "How'd I do that?"

"Well, if I don't kiss you then youíll stay...which I want...but then I can't kiss you...which I want...so you see, I'm stuck..."

"Kiss me."

He pretended to seriously consider it for a moment, then tilted her chin up towards him and brushed his lips gently against hers. Her hands slid up his back and held him close as he deepened the kiss.

She stepped back reluctantly and unlocked her front door. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

He smiled as he looked up at her and nodded.

She leaned forward and kissed him one more time before shutting the door gently and pressing her hand against the glass. He placed his over it, then stepped back and started walking backwards away from her down the street. She waved once and crept up the stairs, careful not to wake her parents.

She floated into her bedroom and flopped down on the bed, grinning like an idiot. In love. She was in love. Max was her soul mate and she was his. Life was perfect, the world was beautiful. She had never been so happy.

Maria...

Liz looked over at the phone on her night table, her happiness fading a little. She felt guilty. How could she be this happy when Maria was so unhappy?

Maybe she had a good time tonightÖ Liz thought hopefully as she picked up the phone and dialed.

"Hello?" Maria mumbled quietly on the other end.

And maybe she didn't...

"Hey."

"Oh, hi..." She had been crying. Liz could hear it in her voice.

"I didn't see you leave."

"I left pretty early. He showed up."

"Wow...what happened?"

"Heís a bastard. I donít want to talk about it. He walked in and he was staring at me and I was staring at him...and he walked away. He went to Isabel. So I left. And he followed me and...nothing. I went home." She sighed. "I don't want to talk about it... Actually, Liz? Can I just call you tomorrow? I'm just...I'm really tired."

"Okay..."

"Did you have fun at least?"

"Yeah... I...I really did."

"That's good," she said honestly. "I'm glad."

"Goodnight, Maria."

"'Night, Liz."

Liz hung up the phone and laid back down on her bed, wishing there was something she could do to fix things, but she knew there was nothing she could do. It was all up to Michael.

She liked Michael. She did. She just didn't think he would take that step. She didn't think he could be what Maria needed him to be.

She needed him to be there.

Liz had seen Maria with other boys. She had seen her keep her distance. She knew she was afraid of getting close, of letting herself care too much. Liz knew it was because of her father leaving.

What Liz didn't understand was why of all the people in Roswell New Mexico, she had chosen Michael Guerin to care about. Maria was afraid of being left. If Michael had a chance to go home he would go without a glance behind. It would kill Maria. And yet she seemed willing to take that risk. She loved him.

Liz didn't know how Michael felt. They didn't exactly confide in each other, and he hadn't been talking to Max.

Liz sighed. She didn't know how to make Maria feel better, she didn't know how to fix things. The only one who could do anything was Michael, and she doubted he would even try.

***

Isabel stepped out of her dress and pulled her Chinese robe on, tying the sash loosely around her waist. She had just gotten back from driving Alex home.

She liked him. She really did. She liked the feeling of his eyes on her when he thought she wasnít looking. He was sweet. He was normal. He liked her even though he knew the truth. He knew who she really was and he still thought she was beautiful.

She stepped into the bathroom and turned on the faucet. She would have liked to kiss him, just to see what it was like. Isabel pooled the water in her palms and splashed her face, then dried it with a towel. She removed the last traces of makeup from her face by waving her hand over it, then turned off the light and went back to her room.

Alex was something to think about, that was for sure.

A knock on her window.

Isabel stood and went to it. Michael had never come to her window before. She unlocked it and opened it for him. She stepped back as he slipped inside and sat down on her bed. He looked tired.

Isabel sat down beside him.

"How'd it go with Maria?" she asked tentatively.

"Bad."

"How bad?"

"I blew it. She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you..."

"I didn't even get a chance to tell her!"

"Tell her what?"

"I don't know." He sighed. "I don't know...it doesn't matter anymore. I hurt her...just like I always knew I would." He looked at her. "She thinks I...dumped her...for you..."

Isabel snorted. She couldn't help herself.

"Why would she think that?"

"Max told Liz..."

"And Liz told Maria..." she finished. "Didn't you tell her that we're not together? That Max misunderstood?"

"She didn't give me a chance! She just went off on me and then ran away."

"You should have gone after her."

"I tried to, but the principal caught me following her into the girls room. I had to wait until he left and when he was gone so was she..." He stood from the bed and started pacing back in forth in front of it. "I thought about going to her house, but she'd probably just slam the door in my face. I don't even know what I'd say..."

"Tell her how you feel." Isabel said it softly.

"I don't know how I feel."

"Michael, you care about her. Admit it. You wouldn't be this worked up if you didn't. Just explain it to her. She'll understand..."

"She's not going to let me get close enough to her to say anything..."

Isabel was quiet for a moment.

"Dream Walk," she said leaning over and grabbing her yearbook from under her bed. She handed it to him.

"You know how to do it, right? Touch her picture, concentrate. Think about her as you fall asleep and will yourself into her subconscious. She'll never know you're there unless you want her to, or unless you touch her. You can be honest there though-- You can talk to her and she won't walk away from you-- not unless she wakes herself up. If you do it, talk to her, Michael. It's the only way youíll get her to listen."

Michael took the yearbook from her and traced the emblem with his finger, thinking about it. He looked up at her finally and nodded. He went to the window, but turned back to her before leaving.

"Is...what I wanted to tell you?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't want you to feel guilty about us not...being together all those years..."

Isabel stood and went to him, shaking her head. "I... don't."

"Yeah...you do, Is. I can see it in your eyes..." He reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "It was my fault. I pushed you away. Don't ever feel bad about anything that happened. You didn't know because I didn't want you to know. I did this. I kept us away. So don't...don't feel like anything is your fault. I was the one that ran from the Evanses that night, ran from you and Max. You never ran from me."

He pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug. She held him back tightly and kissed him on the cheek before letting him go.

"Go get her..." She smiled at him as she wiped away a tear, and watched him climb out the window. "Good luck, Michael."

***

He opened his eyes and he was there at the dance again. The gym was empty with the exception of a lone couple clinging to each other as they danced. It was Maria and himself. He came closer to them, disturbed by how real this all felt despite the smokiness of the colors and the thickness of the air.

He stood beside them watching himself hold Maria, kiss Maria. He stepped away from her suddenly-- his dream self-- and laughed at her. Isabel appeared suddenly and he took her by the waist and kissed her passionately as Maria looked on, tears glistening in her eyes but not falling.

Even in her dreams she refused to cry in front of him.

"Did you really think I would want you? A human?" He and dream Isabel laughed cruelly and sauntered out of the gym, their arms around each other.

"Are you surprised?" A little voice said, and Michael and Maria both turned to see Maria sitting on a kitchen stool, swinging her feet back and forth, not touching the ground. She was six, her hair was in pigtails, and she was sucking on a lollipop.

Maria went to her and sat down beside her in a stool that materialized out of the thick air. "No, I guess not..."

"They always leave..." The little girl whispered and they both looked up as a door slammed shut somewhere. Little Maria started crying and Maria just sat there for a moment listening to her, then said harshly, "He's not coming back-- get over it."

Little Maria disappeared.

Maria was alone.

"I'm always alone," she said softly to the empty gym. The streamers fell from the ceiling, waving gently through the air, until they landed in crushed spirals on the floor.

Michael realized suddenly that they had formed the shapes on the map-- the map they had found in the cave. He looked back up at Maria. Tears were rolling down her face.

He couldn't help himself. He reached out and touched her, wrapped his arms around her. She melted against him for a moment, then yelped, realizing that he was really real. She pushed him away.

"What are you doing here!" She quickly wiped her eyes, turning her back on him.

"I need to talk to you..."

She whirled around, furious. "Well I don't want to talk to you! God, who do you and Isabel think you are coming into people dreams like this?! They're private!"

"I wouldn't have to if you'd have let me talk before!"

She stared at him, her eyes still smoldering and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Make it quick."

"I just...I just wanted to..."

ìWhat?î "Give me a minute!"

"You've had a minute! You've had many minutes! You had an entire week of ignoring me!"

"Maria!"

She shut up.

"Isabel and I are not together. She's my sister."

"Yeah."

"I'm serious."

She stared at him. "Wow..."

"Yeah...So I'm not...I didn't... 'dump' you...for her..."

"How did you find out she's..."

Michael shook his head. "I can't get into it right now...just don't tell Liz or Max or anyone..."

"I won't."

"Okay...so..."

"So that's it, huh?"

"Yeah..."

She nodded scornfully and turned her back on him again.

Tell her how you feel... He thought he heard Isabel's voice.

He took a deep breath. He wasn't a talker-- he was a doer.

Michael came up behind her, just like he had at the Crashdown the first time he had kissed her, and gently pressed his lips against hers. And then she was kissing him back, her fingers tangling themselves in his hair, and it all felt so real, her fingers stroking his neck, the glide of her tongue against his. She pulled back slightly to look at him, breathing deeply.

"Don't...do this to me...if it doesnít mean anything to you..." she whispered, biting her lip.

"I care about you..."

"I care about you."

"But I'm going home someday...and I don't want to..."

"You don't want to have a reason to stay."

"No."

"Michael...what's so bad about caring about someone while you're here? What's so bad about letting someone care about you? The time you have here on earth...don't...don't waste it."

She reached out to him again and he pulled back, pain in his eyes, in his voice. "I can't..."

She was quiet for a minute, staring at him, then stepped back. "Fine."

"Maria...this is the right thing to do...for both of us. I don't want to be like your dad, I don't want you depending on me..."

"First of all, don't ever assume that you know what's right for me, okay? And second, don't you dare bring up my dad. How I feel about you chickening out on me has nothing to do with that. I know the chances are you'll leave someday and I'll never see you again...never kiss you or hold you or touch your stupid hair again...but I was willing to face that. Apparently you're not."

He was silent. He didn't know what to say.

"I think it's time for you to leave." She started to walk away from him, erasing the streamer-map with every step. She stopped and spoke over her shoulder to him. "Don't ever do this again."

***

Michael opened his eyes, back in his bedroom. It was over. She hated him, and as much as that killed him, as much as the place where his heart used to be felt like a hole with burning edges, he knew ending it once and for all, ending whatever hope she had of them getting back together...whatever hope he had...was the right decision.

Yeah, it didn't feel like it now.

But it would.

Eventually.

Someday.

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