Turning By Natalie (obriens@recoder.ca)
Turning Rating: PG-13 to R
Disclamer: None of these characters belong to me. They belong to MelindaMetz, Jason Katims, the WB, etc. I am just taking them for a test drive.Distribution: Everyone that asked for my other story, Bouquet of Clumsy Words, can have this one too if they want. Anyone else please send me your URL. I'm into fair trade :)
Feedback: Yes, please (is there any other answer?). Feedback makes writers type up the next parts faster...
* * * *
Maria DeLuca rubbed her eyes sleepily, trying to ignore the imbecilic babbling coming from her clock radio. It couldn't be seven o'clock yet, it just couldn't. It felt like she had never even closed her eyes.
Opening her eyes ever so slightly Maria found more in the world to be annoyed with. The sun was shining in the clear blue sky, birds were chirping merrily. What were they so happy about? Maria wished for a BB gun.
Scratching her stomach and yawning, Maria padded barefoot to the bathroom she shared with her mother down the hall. It took five minutes of the shower's most powerful spray setting on her face before Maria completely opened her eyes. Breathing in the sweet fruity scent of her shampoo Maria started to feel more human. Towelling dry, the sunshine warm on the tiles of her bathroom Maria felt that maybe she could get through another Monday morning. The crankiness was fading and she could nap in Social Studies.
Grabbing the first pair of jeans and tank top she came across in her messy room, Maria was dressed and ready for the day. Maria's Mom had taken the car so Maria was half done with the walk to school when she realized that she hadn't as much as brushed her hair.
Maria's hands flew to her head. She feel the frizziness creating itself under her fingers. Oh God, with no gel she'd have an afro by mid morning. It was too late to head back home... Maria's top lip curled into disgust as she angrily walked/stomped the rest of the way to school. This was not going to be a good day.
# # # #
Michael Guerin woke slowly in a bed across town. The sun warmed his cheek, calling him from slumber. He stretched luxuriously on his small bed, his eyes closed and a peaceful half smile on his face. He had been having the best dream... The particulars were floating away as he woke but the feeling stayed. It had been his best sleep since.... well, since forever.
He grabbed his watch off his small bedside table. It was 7:00 am. Michael couldn't remember the last time he had been up at 7:00 am. With nothing better to do, he might as well check out homeroom.
Sliding off his bed and down to the bathroom, Michael took a quick shower. He actually hummed as he brushed his teeth and put a bit of Hank's gel in his hair, giving it a semblance of style. Back in his room Michael grabbed a clean white tank top and found a green dress shirt to go over it. He vaguely remembered Isabel giving it to him last Christmas. He doubted if it had been worn more than once.
Grabbing an apple for lunch, Michael headed out the door to be early for school for the first time since he had entered Roswell High.
* * * *
It was Period Four and Maria's day had yet to get any better. She couldn't believe it. First, Michael, *Michael*, of all people showed up (On time!) For first class. Since the napkin holder... thing he was no long on Maria's Top Ten ‘People to shoot from a Bell Tower' list but she was even more unsure how to act around him. They weren't a ‘thing', that was clear, but they definitely weren't acquaintances either. Or enemies. That left friends.
But friendship was hard when two people didn't talk unless there was a major crisis that would lead to death and/or destruction. That and how Michael's eyes on her skin gave her shivers. Maria was pretty sure friendship was a shiverless territory.
*Then* Mr. Townsend decided to check homework. Homework that Maria had been too tired to do the night before. To add insult to Maria's mark of zero, Michael had his homework done! She didn't know who looked the most surprised, her, the teacher or Michael.
Recovering from his shock, Mr. Townsend started into a lecture about Britain's imperialistic tendencies and how mercantilism lead to the growth of colonies... Maria was almost asleep when the bell rang. Lunchtime! At least nothing could go wrong then.
* * * *
Of course, things were going wrong in all aspects of Maria's life so why not lunch? Among everything else Maria had forgotten at home that morning was the actual food that constituted a lunch. She was forced to borrow money off Liz to buy her meal from the Cafeteria.
She sat down in the seat Liz had saved her in the Quad before she realized that she had bought a cheeseburger, fires and a cherry coke. Maria's entire healthy, all-natural body was screaming in protest. There was no food in that food! But Maria was hungry and it smelled really good....
Soon she was scarfing down her food like a sixteen year old boy who hadn't been fed in three days. "Whoa, slow down, Maria. You might want to breathe between bites."
Michael and Max slid into the seats across from Maria and Liz. Liz smiled brightly. "Hi, Max, Hi, Michael. Max, did you get those biology notes down? She was going through them so quickly I think I missed like, half." Max and Liz settled comfortably into their science talk.
Maria swallowed her bite quickly, embarrassed by her display. Her food was all gone but she was still hungry. It had been missing something.
Michael was just sitting silently, surveying the Quad. It actually looked good today. The sky was blue and all the trees the Life Science class had planted were growing well, gently swaying in the breeze. There was a good vibe coming from the whole school like the sun had lifted everyone's spirits.
Michael certainly felt better than he had in ages. Not even the fact that Maria didn't say hi to him could bring him down. He didn't care if some girl refused to talk to him. He didn't.
Across the table Maria was learning that it was much more dangerous to sit across from Michael than to stare at the back of his head in class. He looked really good today. His collared shirt was unbuttoned, leaving his tight white tank top open to viewing. It was scooped a bit in the neck and Maria found herself mesmerized by the spot where his neck and shoulder met. It looked tasty, like an ice cream cone on a hot day. She wanted to run her tongue down...
Maria physically shook her head, trying to rid her mind of these impractical, incredibly horny thoughts. There would be no licking, she told herself. Or groping. Or the Eraser Room...
She sighed. What was there to live for with no Eraser Room in her future?
She had to derail this train of thought. It was like she had stepped into a sixteen year old boy's guttermind. She was above that. She was a sixteen year old girl. Bad, but not as bad.
"Maria, stop thinking so hard. You're giving me a headache."
Maria's brow was so furrowed, Michael was afraid it might stay that way. He could almost read her internal monologue on her face.
"Yeah, and stop eating my lunch!" Liz lightly slapped Maria's hand away from her carrots.
Maria hadn't realized she was eating off Liz's plate. "Sorry."
Maria looked down at her lap, trying to ignore Liz's questioning look. She knew she was not acting of the norm. A loud crunch sounded in front of her. Michael had just bit into a large, juicy, red apple. Maria was still hungry. And not just for the apple. Abruptly she stood.
"Gotta go." Grabbing her bag, she was gone.
Max and Liz turned to look at Michael. "What?" He asked defensively. "I didn't say anything! She's been acting wiggy all day." He went back to eating his apple.
Now it was Max and Liz's turn to stare at each other. Did Michael just say ‘wiggy'?
* * * *
Liz pushed the door to the Crashdown Café's back room open with a hip. Wonders never ceased now that her world included aliens. Three of them to be exact. She had been shot, followed by the FBI, and arrested. And then this; Michael Guerin had ordered a salad. Liz didn't know he knew that section of the menu existed.
"Hey, Maria," She called into the back. "The weirdest thing-"
She stepped into the mini employees lounge. Maria stood up very quickly, hiding something behind her back. And there was a little bit of something brown on her lip.
Maria smiled sheepishly. "Hi, Liz." Her words were more like ‘Mi, Miz' with all the chocolate in her mouth.
"Maria! Are you eating chocolate? You know how hyper it makes you!" Liz grinned at her embarrassed friend.
Maria held out her piece of chocolate, looking abashed. "Sowry."
Liz took pity on her friend and took away the cake. But it looked so good that a little taste wouldn't hurt her. Liz grabbed a bite, bringing it to her mouth.
"No, Liz! Don't!" Maria cried, but the cake was already in Liz's mouth. And then was promptly spit out.
"Eeck! Maria! What's on that?"
Liz needed a glass of water, her mouth was burning. Maria grabbed her a glass without Liz even asking. She was blushing bright red. Realization dawned on Liz. "It's not..."
Maria nodded, mortified. "Tabasco sauce." She finished.
"Oh God, Maria, this isn't a Michael thing, is it? I know he hurt you but eating his favourite foods isn't going to solve anything."
Liz knew Maria had been keeping in most of her feelings about the break up but she hadn't known it was this bad. Chocolate cake and tabasco sauce? Liz needed a couple(or ten) more glasses of water.
"I don't know, Liz!" Maria collapsed onto the small couch. She looked near to tears. ‘I don't know what's wrong with me!"
Liz sat on the loveseat, putting a comforting arm around her friend. "What is it?" Liz asked gently, smiling encouragingly at Maria.
Maria put her head into her hands. "I can't tell you. You'll think I'm going crazy."
Liz laughed. "After all we've been through? I doubt it."
Maria took Liz's hands into her own, looking deep into her eyes. "I think I'm turning into Michael."
Liz started to laugh, but the seriousness in Maria's face stoped her. "How? What?" Liz was all confusion.
"I don't know, but I can't explain it any other way! I haven't been sleeping, I've been eating the hugest amounts of the weirdest food-"
"Maybe you're just PMSing." Maria gave Liz a look. "Or not."
"I've haven't been doing my homework. I'm annoyed at everything."
"Maybe this is just you getting over Michael." Liz spoke gently. Maria was spazzing, even for her.
"No, you don't understand! I didn't put any makeup on this morning! Or do my hair." Looking around wildly, Maria picked up the shirt she had been wearing that day. "Here! Evidence! Liz, this shirt was already dirty, I wore it Friday! You know-"
*CRASH!* Maria and Liz jumped up and ran into the restaurant, fearing the worst.... To see Michael apologizing profusely to Wendy, the other waitress on shift, helping her pick a bunch of broken plates from the floor.
"I'm so sorry." Michael said sincerely. "I'm such a klutz. I'll help you clean up. Where's the mop? I'm so embarrassed." He put a hand to his head.
Looking back at Liz, Maria spoke seriously. "And he's turning into me."
* * * *
Liz dragged Max and Isabel into the employees lounge while Michael was distracted by the mess he had created. Isabel looked annoyed, her perfect nose scrunched at the not so clean lounge. Max looked inquisitive. And Maria... well, there was denying it, Maria looked like Michael.
She hadn't sprouted biceps or a 5 o'clock shadow, but there was something in the way she held herself, unconsciously assuming a defensive posture. Her body screamed don't touch me, echoing Michael....It was unnerving.
Thinking of the reactions she was likely to get from Max and Isabel, Liz decided the employees room wasn't quite private enough. "Uh, I think we should go upstairs for this. Maria, wait for Michael, okay?"
Maria grunted her reply.
Oh, this was not good. Liz looked at the other two aliens helplessly. "We need to talk."
* * * *
Liz twisted her hands together nervously, pacing her small room. Away from Maria's influence, she was starting to feel stupid.
"What is it, Liz? Are you okay?" Max looked very concerned and Liz had to tell herself his eyes were not a liquid brown and she was not melting into them. She had to say something. She took a deep breath. "Have you guys noticed anything strange about Michael and Maria lately?"
"Strange? When are they not strange?" Isabel spoke a little harsher than necessary. Liz had scared her. "When they aren't fighting, they are making out and even when they are fighting they look like they want to tear each other's clothes off. I'm surprised they don't spontaneously combust. And now that Michael has broken it off, they both try terribly hard not to look lovesick. They walk through the halls terrified they'll run into each other and disappointed when they don't. Is that a good enough definition of strange or were you looking for something in particular?" Isabel was glad to get that off her chest, both of her brothers had been driving her crazy lately.
Liz pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Other than that. Have you noticed anything... different? In the way they act, dress, speak?" Or eat, Liz thought distastefully. She could still feel the tabasco sauce in her mouth.
"Well, Michael did say ‘wiggy' today..." Max trailed off. He wanted to help but he had no idea where Liz was going with this.
Isabel almost smiled. "He's just being hanging out with Maria too much. Do you know he actually asked me where you can get aromatherapy stuff? I took him to the mall. I needed some Body Shop facial scrub anyway."
Liz pounced on that. Maybe she'd found some evidence. "What kind did he buy?"
Isabel shrugged. "I don't know, something strange, some oil."
Liz didn't want to lead the witness so she gave her a few options. "Rosemary?"
"No."
"Peppermint?"
"No."
"Chamomile?"
"No..." Isabel paused. "But it might have been something starting with a c."
"Camphor?"
"No."
"Cyprus oil?"
"Yeah. What's this all about, Liz?"
Liz smiled in triumph. "That's Maria's favourite scent!"
That stopped Isabel for a second. That was kind of sweet. She knew Michael liked to flirt and do *other* things with Maria, but she wouldn't have expected him to do anything so... so... sappy. God, she had thought she could have counted on at least Michael to keep his head on straight. He had never been sickeningly romantic like Max.
"So, I was right. He's just lovesick." She said brusquely. "Are you planning to play Matchmaker?"
Liz's eyes shot up. "No, nothing like that." Liz felt so silly. "Maria has this idea in her head, that well, shewasturningintoMichael." Liz spoke almost Maria-fast.
She stared at her hands. Why had she even let Maria talk her into this? Liz couldn't help blushing. Any second the two aliens would burst into laughter. This was for Maria though, so Liz forced herself to ask, "But that couldn't happen. Right?" She looked her Max, expectantly.
Isabel wanted to laugh. She looked at Max, a grin spreading across her face. Michael would get such a kick out of this. Max though, appeared to be taking the news more seriously.
"Well." Max sat down on Liz's bed. "I doubt Maria is actually be turning into Michael. They aren't acting like they have body swapped or anything, but maybe he's influencing her in some way. We don't really understand our powers."
"That wasn't exactly the answer I was looking for, Max." Liz sat down bedside him. "So, what do we do?"
Isabel couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Have you both gone nuts? Just because Michael is a little clumsy today and Maria forgot her gel doesn't mean he's doing something to her. They just get distracted around each other. They'll get over it." Isabel stated strongly. They'd all get over their attachments to humans. They just needed time.
Liz and Max exchanged a glance that made Isabel want to scream. They were acting as if she was the crazy one here. Okay, maybe she was a little too adamant about the no humans rule but if she had to follow it so did the boys.
Liz had saved her trump card. She had hoped she wouldn't have to use it but... Oh well. "Maria was eating chocolate with tabasco sauce."
Max and Isabel stared at Liz, uncomprehending. "That's our ultimate comfort food." Isabel said. "But it would taste horrible to humans."
Liz grimaced. "Believe me, it does."
Max looked at her strangely. "I didn't know what was on it and I took a piece." She explained quickly. As crazy as she was about Max, she would not stoop to sharing his dietary habits.
The aliens weren't speaking. Liz paused for a long moment. "I propose an experiment. Tonight Isabel will go into Michael and Maria's dreams and see if it's just the break up blues or something more. Okay?"
Isabel was about to protest but Max held his hand up to stop her. "We are just taking precautions, Izzy. It's probably nothing."
Isabel fought the urge to pout. She would not pout in front of Liz Parker."Why do I have to do it? I hate going into Michael's dreams."
"Why?" Liz's dark eyes were curious. Michael was the hardest of the alien trio to figure out.
"It isn't a nice place to be, okay?" Isabel answered shortly. She knew Michael wouldn't want her to discuss his problems with Liz.
Max stood, giving Isabel's arm a squeeze. He let loose a little grin. "He seems well rested lately. Maybe's he's been having a good dreams."
Isabel stared him down with her perfected, big-brother-does-not-know-best look. "Is that supposed to make me feel better? I don't think I want to know what Michael's good dreams look like."
Maria chose that moment to enter the room. "Sorry we took so long. Mr. Spill Up crashed into a thing of napkins." She rolled her eyes and pursed her lips in annoyance. Isabel felt the strangest sense of deja vu....
Michaels' voice called to them from outside the room. "Max, Isabel, check this out. Liz has this cool painting out here."
Maria rolled her eyes again as the rest went to join Michael in the hallway. The picture was a print of Van Gogh's Starry Night. Liz wasn't surprised Michael liked it. It had always reminded her of the three aliens. The town looked so beautiful and serene but the night sky's colours were all wrong, yellows and greens mixed in with blue. Liz wondered if the sky had looked like that the night Max, Michael and Isabel crashed to earth.
"Thanks, Michael. Maria gave it to me for Christmas. It's one of her favourites."
Michael nodded absently, absorbed in the painting, but Isabel and Max swivelled to look at Liz. She could only shrug.
Isabel and Max nodded at each other. Tonight Isabel would dreamwalk.
* * * *
Isabel laid down on her bed, willing herself to relax. Max sat in a chair by her bed, doing his biology homework. They had agreed that he would stand guard while she slept. If it looked like Michael's dream was upsetting her, he'd wake her up.
Isabel took a deep breath and ran her fingers over the picture of Michael. She was in before she even exhaled.
* * * *
Michael stood alone in the desert, staring up at the stars. The night sky was full of them, all painted in different shades of blue, green and yellow. He could feel their glow on his skin like a physical force, cleansing him, lightning him from the inside. Wherever he was, it was perfect, it was home.
"Hey now."
Michael did not start at the sound of Maria's voice, filling the silence with musical notes. She belonged here as much as he. It was her home too.
He didn't reply, just stretched his hand behind him. There was no hesitation, no insecurity. He knew she would hold his hand as tightly as he held hers. In this dream world nothing needed to be said. With a touch all was understood.
Her hands laced through his as she hugged him from behind. "They are beautiful, aren't they?"
She clasped their hands together at Michael's waist. Her thumbs drew little circles on his skin. It was as if his shirt didn't even exist. He could feel her to his core.
"Yeah." He agreed. "I have to remind myself that all this," He gestured to the sky with their clasped hands. "All these stars I see are already dead and gone."
Releasing his hands, Maria moved in front of him, looking into his eyes, his little boy eyes. "Not these stars, Michael. These stars will never die."
Michael shivered at the way her voice wrapped around his name. "How do you know?"
"I just do." She smiled serenely, a Mona Lisa smile that revealed as many secrets as it held.
He cupped her face in his hands. He was amazed so much beauty could be held. He closed his eyes, reading her face like braille... He stroked the soft skin under her chin with his thumbs as her eyelashes kissed his fingertips. She ran her hands slowly down his arms, placing them over his.She turned her face into his left palm, placing the softest of kisses on his life line. She repeated the action with his right hand, making sure to give every part of him equal attention.
Michael could feel every nerve in the small space where her lips touched his skin. This was the happiest he had ever felt and he wanted to cry. Maria drew his face down to hers, touching her cherishing lips to his forehead, as soft as a mother kissing her sleeping child goodnight. She kissed his cheeks with the warmness of a favourite friend. Her lips hovered over his, he exhaled and she took his breath into herself, her body filled with his soul.
Her shuddering sigh against his lips was too much for Michael. He crushed her to him, every atom in his body needing to feel her against him. Maria responded with equal heat. She did not need to worry about rejection in this place. Her intense need did not have to be hid. He could as easily cut off his own hand as push her away. Her fingers danced along his spine, travelling up to his neck into his soft, spiky hair. It tickled her fingers.
Maria wanted to laugh with joy. Nothing had felt so right to her as moulding herself to this man's mouth, his hands, his body. He worshipped her neck like a goddess'. Maria broke away.
Michael looked at her, lips swollen and red, his eyes dazed. His look became eager, hungry, as Maria reached for her shirt. Her movements were languorous, teasing, as she lifted the plain white t-shirt over her head. She let the shirt drop carelessly, looking at Michael with trusting eyes.
He took in the sight of her, her skin and curves shadowed with the colours of the night sky. He dropped to his knees in front of her, laying his head against the soft whiteness of her stomach. He nuzzled her, his slight 5 o'clock shadow sending waves of sensations through her body.
Maria clutched at the thin t-shirt on his back, pulling on it, desperate to feel his skin. Michael allowed her to pull his shirt over his head. She slid down to her knees to be at his level. She wanted to see his eyes. They were always so distrustful, shuttered against the rest of the world. Now they were open, seeing only her.
She brought her hand up to his chest, her touch reverential. Her hands glided over his skin, light and unsubstantial as butterflies.
Michael needed more. He spread his shirt behind her and laid her gently back on it. She wasn't scared, she was waiting. Her arms pulled him down after her. Her legs wrapped around him as their chests met. Both knew that even this contact would not be enough.
So, depending on your outlook, it could be a good thing that all hell (given name, Isabel) chose that moment to break loose. Isabel had no sooner materialized in Michael's dream than she wanted out of it.
Michael and his dream Maria were wrapped around each other as tightly as two people could be and still manage to a) Have their pants on and b) Not be an alien-human pretzel. Isabel thanked any and all gods that existed that they still had their pants on. She closed her eyes tightly and concentrated on waking up before the melded couple saw her.
"Isabel!" Too late. Michael sounded embarrassed and not just a little angry.
Wake up, wake up, she thought. Michael was going to be so mad at her for invading his dreams. She'd blame it all on Max and Liz of course, but she did feel bed. Even in her quick (emotionally scarring) look Michael had looked the more open, free, than she'd had ever seen him in reality. This just wasn't a lust dream, it was something more.
"I'm going, I'm going!" Max, *please* wake me up!
Something whizzed by Isabel's head and she turned to look at it as it flew past. The UFO looked very similar to Maria's black boot. Isabel hoped she woke before the other shoe came her way. Maria had surprisingly good aim. The night sky began to fade and Isabel smiled thankfully.
"Finally!" She sat up on her bed, wishing she had a boot to throw at her sleeping brother. She settled for her hairbrush.
"Ah! Ouch! Iz?" Max ran his hands over his face. "I'm sorry, I guess I fell asleep. What did you find?" He looked at her sympathetically. "Was it bad?"
"It was horrible!" Max looked guilty. "It was a *good* dream!"
Realization dawned in Max's face and his lips started to tremble. "You mean, Michael..."
"And Maria! Max! Don't laugh!" A stuffed elephant was the next projectile.
"I'm sorry." Max's shoulders were shaking. "It's just you look so outraged! One of your boys dreaming about sex!"
Isabel huffed. "Thankfully it wasn't quite at that point yet but it would have been in five minutes."
Max gently placed Mr. Elephant back on the bed. "So, we know where Michael's head's been at lately. Just Maria left."
Isabel shot him a death stare as he handed her their freshman year book. "I hope she's having a nightmare about killer clowns. I need something to shake Michael's thoughts out of my head." She settled back into her bed.
"And you!" She pointed an accusing finger at her brother. "Better stay awake this time."
Max looked properly contrite and Isabel opened the yearbook to Maria's picture.
"Here goes..."
* * * *
It took Isabel half a second to realize she was back in Michael's desert. The sky was full of strangely shaped blue, green and yellow stars and Maria and Michael were still curled around each other, this time talking softly.
Their hands could not stay put. They ran constantly over the other's back, side, hair, face, as if needing to remind themselves of the other's reality.
Isabel coughed. Loudly. This time she was getting answers.
Maria groaned. "I thought you said you said you were leaving." She grinned teasingly at Michael. "This isn't some sick fantasy of yours, is it?"
"That's gross, Maria, she's like my sister!" He turned to Isabel. "Can you please leave? And this time don't come back."
"Wait, you remember me?" She asked Michael. She turned to Maria."And you can see me?"
"Of course I can see you. You're wearing red silk pj's and are seriously not wanted."
Since Isabel didn't seem to be leaving anytime soon, Maria reached for her shirt. Michael couldn't hide his look of disappointment. Maria grinned and whispered, "Get her out of here and you can take it off again."
"Okay, Iz, time to go." Michael got up to bodily usher Isabel out of his dream plane.
"No, this makes no sense."
Maria sighed. "It's a dream, it's not supposed to make sense."
"But whose dream is it? The first time it was Michael's but then I tried to get into Maria's and ended up here again."
Maria shook her head at Isabel's dull-witted questions. "It is my dream."
"But then how is Michael here? It's really him, isn't it? It's not a dream him." Isabel pinched Michael's arm, hard. He yelped in pain.
Isabel was looking more worried, this had never happened to her. When she snuck into people's dreams they had no idea she was there. Michael and Max could spy her out if they were trying, but Maria seeing her... The real Maria and Michael being in the same dream...
"I have to talk to Max."
"Max!" Maria exclaimed. "Is he here too? Can we have no privacy?!?"
Isabel didn't answer. She was already gone.
Michael looked at Maria seriously. "I should talk to her. I need to wake up."
Maria eyes filled with tears. She hated this part. "I won't remember, will I?"
Michael reached a hand out, smoothing her hair from her face. "I don't know. You never seem to."
Maria had to fight more tears. "I want to, you know that, right?"
He just kissed her gently on the lips. "Goodnight, Maria."
And he was gone. Maria lay back on the ground, staring at the night sky, the sand absorbing her silent tears.
* * * *
Michael awoke instantly. "Shit."
That dream had felt more real then all the previous others. God, what had Isabel been doing there? How was he going to explain this to her and Max? It's just a dream, he told himself. Your subconscious playing games with your mind. It doesn't mean anything.
But Michael knew it did. He spent all day looking forward to night.
* * * *
Max, Liz and Isabel sat on an isolated bench in Roswell High's Quad. They all looked like they had been asked to solve a nuclear physics question with an abacus.
"So, they were having the same dream. Is that usual?"
"No." Isabel replied curtly. "It doesn't happen."
"Well, they've both been thinking about each other and then the painting..."
"Yes, and the complex system of neurons and brains waves involved with REM sleep all decided at the same time in one alien and one human body to act out the same make out fantasy. That sounds very likely."
"Isabel..." Max voiced warned her.
Isabel bit at one perfectly manicured cuticle, something Liz had never seen her do before. "Sorry, Liz. It's not you."
Liz smiled. One had to have a thick skin around Isabel. "But I still don't get how Michael was there. I thought he couldn't dreamwalk."
Max shrugged. "He's never been able to. He just can't get the focus you need to enter someone's mind. He's better with strong, destructive power. If you want something melted, he's your guy. Anything complicated..." Max trailed off. Maria had told them all the story of her car engine. Repeatedly. Loudly.
Liz chewed on her bottom lip. "That doesn't make any sense. Maria told me he offered to fix her napkin holder. You know, not manually."
Isabel's eyes narrowed. "He's been getting better."
"And not telling us." Max finished.
"Why wouldn't he? Liz asked. "You think he'd be proud."
"That," Isabel's eyes were icy. "Is a very good question." She saw Michael heading toward them.
"Oh God," Liz whispered. "What are we going to say?"
But Max didn't get a chance to answer. "Hi, guys." Michael sat down with a hot dog from the Café. He took out a new bottle of tabasco sauce from the inner pocket of his leather jacket.
"Hey, Michael." Isabel smiled sweetly. "Been doing any dreamwalking lately?"
The tabasco sauce landed in Michael's lap, the red quickly spreading over his jeans. "Shit!" He grabbed the bottle, standing it on the table. He shot Isabel annoyed glare. "Keep your voice down."
"No one is around, Michael. Answer the question." Isabel's face was hard.
"No, okay? You know I can't dreamwalk. But you can. You know, I was going to talk to you in private about this." He glanced at Liz. "But now that you brought it up, what were you doing in my dream last night?" Michael matched Isabel's harsh stare with his own. "You know I don't want you in my head."
Isabel's dangerously sweet smile was on her face again. "I wasn't in your head. I was in Maria's. But now that *you* mention it I did see you there."
"What? What are you talking about?" Michael actually looked confused, and Isabel's face softened. Was he really ignorant? "Wait, Maria was dreaming about me?" The question escaped him before he could stop it and Isabel had to fight a giggle. His ears had turned pink.
"Nope, Maria wasn't really dreaming of you. She had a dream. And you were in it." Michael moved off the bench. "Congratulations Isabel, I don't think you could make less sense if you tried."
Max knew from experience that it was his turn to step in. "Michael, we're sorry. It's confusing, that's all. Sit down."
Michael looked at him for a moment, lips pressed tightly together. Finally he sat. "We're sorry for invading your privacy, Michael, but we had to. Last night Isabel went into both yours and Maria's dream. And well," Max coughed, embarrassed. "You were dreaming of Maria."
"So?" Michael's voice was still angry and defensive, but in reality he was scared. He peeked at Liz again. Would she tell?
"When she went into Maria's dream, well...." Max looked at Isabel for help.
"You were having the same dream, Michael. You were in Maria's dream, she was in yours. Whatever. You both saw me and told me," She grinned. "To get out, not so politely."
"Weird." Michael got up to go.
"Michael!" Liz spoke for the first time. "Where are you going? We have to talk about this."
"There's nothing to say. It's weird but what about Maria isn't? I'm out of here."
Isabel wanted to scream. "He is so determined not to admit he likes her!We all saw him kiss her in the dream place. But no, he's too tough."
"You must be talking about Michael."
Isabel almost jumped out of her skin.When had Maria gotten so good at sneaking up on people?
"Maria!" Liz's voice sounded shocked.
Her best friend looked horrible. Her clothes were wrinkled, there were huge bags under her eyes and Liz was pretty sure that Maria had forgotten to put on any bra, much less an aqua one.
"Keep it down, will you? I have the biggest headache." She slumped down against the bench. "So, you told them." She nodded at Isabel and Max. "Do you guys think I'm PMSing too? Hey," Maria's eyes sparked maliciously."Does this thing go both ways? If so, I hope I get my period. For once a man can experience cramps." She grinned evilly.
Max looked at everything but Maria. "Uh, yes, well."
"Spit it out, Maxwell, you're starting to sound like Hugh Grant."
"Okay, Maria, you're *really* freaking me out!" Isabel couldn't handle Michael's words coming out of Maria's mouth.
"Oh yes, and I feel so normal in comparison. Just tell what you've learned."
"I think it does go both ways, Maria. Michael has been acting well, happier, in the past few days. He's coming to class, been getting some sleep..."
"Washing." Maria added snidely.
Max chose to ignore that. "It's probably just hitting you harder because, well, you're not one of us. You probably don't have any defenses for, for-"
"Keeping arrogant, messy aliens out of my head? Yeah, my mom never mentioned that running in the family. It could be on my father's side though." She snorted.
Liz reached for her hand. Maria sounded so cynical, angry. Liz wasn't surprised when Maria shook her touch off. That's what Michael would have done.
"Maria," Liz spoke kindly. "What do you remember of your dreams last night?"
"My dreams?" Maria thought back. "I don't remember any of my dreams. God, I can't remember any dreams since that one I told you about. Where Isabel was R2-D2 and Max was C3-P0." Maria giggled for a moment sounding like her old self.
Max and Isabel were not loving this story. "Let me guess," Isabel commented dryly. "Michael was Han Solo."
Maria blushed.
Liz broke in. "But Maria, that was weeks ago. You usually remember all your dreams."
Maria looked confused. "You're right, that was before the heat wave..."
Liz looked stricken. This had been going on that long? What if it wasn't reversible? "Maria, Isabel went into your dreams last night. Michael was there."
"So? A person can't be held accountable for their dreams. It doesn't-"
"Silence." Isabel commanded. She wasn't going through this whole thing again. "The real Michael was in your dreams."
Maria threw her hands up, cheeks colouring with anger. "Is nothing sacred to you people?"
Isabel crossed her arms in front of her perfect, embroidered white tee."We're getting nowhere with this. Maria, is your mom in town right now?"
"No, why?"
"Then we are meeting there tonight. Late, 11ish. Max, you make sure Michael is there. I'm going to class."
"No way!" Maria was up on her feet.
"Maria." Liz stopped her. "We have to figure this out. Don't worry. We'll work it out tonight."
For a moment Maria was herself and her face crumbled. "Please, Lizzy, I just feel, I feel..."
"What?" Max didn't want to interrupt but he had to know. "I feel everything Michael feels. Oh, Lizzy, I feel so bad." She allowed her friend to take her into her arms.
Liz looked at Max over Maria's shoulder for answers. All she saw was as many worries and doubts as she knew were in her face.
"Shh.. Shh... Maria. It'll be okay." But what if it wasn't?
* * * *
Michael did not want to be on Maria's doorstep. He wanted to be alone. In bed. It was already 11:15. He tried not to question why he suddenly had a self imposed bed time. He was just tired, that's all.
Liz answered the door. "Hi guys, come on in." She led them down a hallway to the family room.
The house started neat but got messier as they reached the kitchen. There were dirty dishes piled in the sink and someone had left the milk out. Liz reached for the milk.
"She usually keeps it pretty neat but lately..." Liz didn't finish her sentence.
Maria had appeared on the stairs. Michael felt a physical pain at seeing her. She looked, she looked... She didn't look like Maria. There was no energy in her body, her eyes had lost their sparkle. He felt a pang of guilt but reminded himself he had nothing to do with this no matter what Isabel and Max thought. He couldn't even dreamwalk.
Maria felt a similar pain looking into Michael's eyes. She had lied toLiz, she didn't need to be kissed by him to feel every cell in her body reach for his. It happened every time she saw him. She knew she looked awful but she didn't care. She could feel many emotions off him but disgust was not one of them.
"Okay, we are going to try some tests." Liz needed to fill the silence.
"Okay Scully, just tell me what to do."
Max nudged Michael. "What Max? I'm cooperating!"
"Michael, you are going to try turn this apple into a pear, okay?" She handed him the fruit.
It was an easy exercise. All you had to do was give all the little apple particles a nudge, tell them that they were grittier,sweeter. The pear skin was rougher but not as thick, elongate the stem, change the seeds.
Michael had always ended up with a lot of splattered fruit. He took the apple into his hand. He looked at it intently.
Maria moved down another step to see better and Michael was distracted, peeking at her for a moment. When he looked back at the apple, it was an pear.
"You have been practising your powers!" Exclaimed Isabel. "Why didn't you tell us? For how long?"
Michael shrugged. "I guess I started trying again after we went to Atherton's place. My powers were so erratic, the visions, the car. I just thought I should improve."
"But why did they get better? You've tried before, why did they suddenly-"
"It was me." Maria stepped into the room and came to a stop in front of Michael. "It is, isn't it?"
Her eyes penetrated his mind and he suddenly felt like a trapped animal. He took an unsteady step back. "What are you talking about?"
"In Atherton's dome you tried to get a vision. Nothing happened. Isabel told you to try again. Nothing. But I moved right beside you," Maria bridged the gap between them, as close as she had been that day. "And it worked."
"She's right." Isabel remembered. "You were blocked and then suddenly, there's a trapped door. Tell us the truth, Michael."
"Okay, fine!" All he wanted to do was run away from this place, from Liz, Max, Isabel and Maria. Especially Maria. "My powers work better when she's around, okay?"
"But that's not all, it is, Michael?" Great, now Max was attacking. Wasn't anyone on his side? "You've been using your powers when Maria's not around. How do you do it?"
Michael ran his hand through his hair. The light brown spikes were gelled and didn't feel familiar. He wished to be beamed off this planet, for a tidal wave to hit, anything so he didn't have to speak these words. But no alien spaceships landed and no natural disaster hit so, he was forced to say it. "I think about her."
"What?" Isabel could barely hear his confession.
"I think about her, okay? I think about Maria and my mind clears. I concentrate on her and I can focus. I can heal, I can fix things."
Michael never took his gaze away from Max. Maria was to the left of his field of his vision. He could smell her shampoo, but maybe if he couldn't see her, it would be all right. No one spoke.
Maria stared at Michael. He stared determinedly at Max. Liz looked lost and Isabel had reached her limit. Walking with a purpose she grabbed Michael's hand, then Maria's, not giving anyone a chance to protest. She was going to finally get her answers.
But a person should always be careful what they wish for. As soon as Isabel completed the connection between the two confused teenagers she could no longer think, she was not a person anymore. She was a conduit.
Up until now Maria had been taking the brunt of their connection. Sh elacked whatever genetic abilities that allowed Michael to send out his feelings, his essence. Like a dam breaking, Maria came pouring through Isabel into Michael, into every empty space in his mind, his heart, his soul. Her life flashed behind his eyes.
He saw every Father's Day she had celebrated on her own. He felt her relief when she met Liz, both of them dressed in their best first day of school dresses. He giggled with the two young girls as they looked through a stolen copy of A Man's Guide to Making Love. He was there when Maria got her first kiss. He was there as she held her mom silently as she cried, another man's promise broken. The first day of high school.
Pain ripped through him as he watched, frozen, as Liz was shot. He felt her terror at learning their secret. He felt some more terror but mostly excitement when he stole her car. He felt everything she had felt every time they touched, in the Crashdown, the eraser room, his fevered dream, hers. She filled every crevice, every cavity and he couldn't breathe.
* * * *
Liz and Max stood in shock. Isabel's body was ramrod straight as if being held up by some invisible hand. Her brown eyes stared straight ahead but saw nothing. Maria and Michael were frozen in the spot where Isabel had grabbed them. Maria was unmoving but Michael was shaking, his head twitching side to side. Max moved to touch Isabel.
"No!" Liz grabbed his hand. "You might get sucked in too. I'll do it."
Before he could stop her, she grabbed Isabel and pulled on her hands. The connection was broken and Isabel slumped forward. Liz could barely keep the taller girl up.
"Max!" Liz looked for help but Max was too busy with their other charges. Maria and Michael were passed out cold on the floor.
Isabel's eyes fluttered open. "Wow."
Liz let her down gently on the floor. "Isabel, what happened?"
Isabel grinned giddily like she was drunk. "So much..." She giggled.
"So much what? Isabel!" Her eyes started to close blissfully.
"Wake up!"Liz slapped her lightly on the cheek.
Isabel looked a little annoyed, like Liz was a gnat that wouldn't go away. "So much feeling. They all came through me... So powerful." She giggled again. "It felt good."
Liz didn't know what to do. Isabel was drunk on... Michael and Maria's feelings? Isabel laid down on the floor, stretching luxuriously. She was still smiling, but she kept her eyes open. Liz hoped it was okay to leave her. Isabel giggled again. Liz took that as a yes.
Max was pulling Michael's arm over his neck. "I'm going to take him upstairs. We have no idea how long they'll be out. What if Maria's mom comes back?" He gripped Michael's side.
Liz put her arms around Maria's waist and started upstairs after him.
* * * *
Liz was back downstairs with Isabel, making her a cup of coffee. Isabel took a sip, made a face and then put the cup back down. Liz added more milk.
"How are you feeling?" Liz asked gently.
"I have a bit of a headache but other than that... I'm okay." Isabel ran her hand through her long blond hair, ridding it of all tangles.
"Can you explain what happened?"
"I don't know, Liz. I was just going to look into Michael and Maria, to see if I could find the connection, you know, see how strong it is. But instead..." She trailed off, still recovering from her experience.
"The connection dragged you in." Liz guessed.
"It used me. I wasn't even me. I was a channel. Maria needed some way to respond to Michael but she was blocked. All she felt, everything, it came through me. It was... Intense."
Liz licked her lips, chewing the problem over in her head like a biology exam. "Did you see anything? Hear anything?"
Isabel shook her head. "Nothing, just emotions. I think Michael was getting something though. It all went through me so fast... I couldn't catch anything."
"Liz, Izzy. Come upstairs!" Max whispered at them from the top of the stairs. "There's something you should see."
The girls ran up the carpeted steps quickly. "Look." Max's voice was full of awe.
Michael and Maria were lying on top of the covers of Maria's bed. They were curled around each other. Maria's face nuzzled Michael's neck and his hands were curled protectively around her back.
"Watch what happens when you separate them." Max continued in a whisper.
Moving over to the sleeping couple, Max lifted Michael's arms and rolled Maria onto her back, out of Michael's embrace. Maria shivered and rolled back on her side, her arms reaching out. Michael looped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. His hand moved to her neck, burying itself into his hair. Maria's arm wrapped around Michael's lower back, the other sneaking under Michael's shirt to rest on his heart. She sighed happily. They slept on.
"They do that every time." Max whispered in wonder.
Isabel's eyes filled with tears and she didn't know why. "Let's go." She murmured. "Let them sleep."
* * * *
"Wow." Maria breathed. "Where are we?"
The landscape was eerily beautiful. Grassy hills sloped up and down all around her. There were stones stacked in lines, fences forgotten by time. The sky was cloudy and the wind rustled in Maria's ears. Trees without leaves bent to it but she wasn't afraid of a storm.
What did scare her was how lonely this place was, how empty. There was no sign of human life. She turned to Michael. "Did you create this place?"
He shrugged, a little afraid. "I read about it in a book once."
Maria came closer, needing to feel the heat of another body. "What book?"
Her hazel eyes were fascinated. He was still such an enigmato her. She could feel so many conflicting emotions off him that she knew even with this window into his soul she would never quite know all that was him.
"Wuthering Heights." He mumbled, looking at his black boots. They were slightly dirty and old fashioned as was the rest of his simple outfit.
Maria smiled lovingly at his discomfort. "Am I Katherine?"
Her hair was longer here, darker. Her dress was plain and dragging against the ground. It was a midnight blue that was almost black.
He nodded silently. "Do you remember much of the story?"
"A little." Maria admitted. "Heathcliff was a wild orphan boy that Katherine's family took in. They loved each other."
Michael smiled. That was Maria for you, remembering only the good parts. "They fought all the time. It was a love that couldn't be." He observed the moors surrounding them. "She married another." He finished.
"But she always loved him."
"For all the good it did her." Michael's voice was bitter.
"Michael! Is this how you see our future?" Maria pursed her lips, annoyed.
He looked away. His back was hunched protectively against the cold. "Maybe."
Maria grabbed his arms and pulled him to her. Her lips found his with heat and purpose. He was forced to open his mouth and let her in. It seemed like they were always doing that. She pushed and he gave in until he couldn't anymore and ran. Then it all started all over again.
She broke away and he was breathless. "I'm not the tragic type, Michael." She grinned a little, confident in her own power. "I'll leave that for Liz and Max. I'm not going to settle for longing looks and tortured dreams. We'll love our own way. We'll fight and bitch and say I hate you. Then we'll kiss, make up and whisper I love you when we think the other can't hear. And it'll be worth it."
She was so sure of herself, of them. Michael envied her.
"Now, let's wake up, okay?"
Michael nodded and knew why she could feel so certain. This Maria only existed in their dreams. She would forget as soon as she woke and his heart would break a little more.
* * * *
Maria awoke and felt good for the first the time in a long time. She felt safe and warm. She stretched. Or at least she tried to stretch. Her arm was tangled in something. She pulled but it wouldn't give.
Maria grew annoyed and yanked harder, twisting her whole body. And succeeding only in toppling herself and something very heavy off the bed and on top of her.
"Oompfh!"
Maria was staring into Michael Guerin's open eyes. Her arm was caught between them under his t-shirt. "What? Michael-"
It all came back to her, Michael using his powers, her confronting him, Isabel grabbing them both. She stared at him in horror. He knew everything, everything she was. He had seen it all.
He opened his mouth to speak. Max and Liz burst through the door. "What happ-" Liz cut herself off, seeing Michael on top of Maria.
"Oops, sorry." She covered her eyes, turning away from the couple. "We're leaving."
Maria pushed Michael off, stretching his plain grey shirt almost beyond repair. Then she did the most Michael like thing that she had done so far. She ran.
* * * *
Maria sat on the merry-go-round. The red paint was peeling, showing the metal beneath. She rested her back against the pole in the middle, recalling how much she'd loved spinning when she was little. She had laughed and laughed, loving the dizziness as the world became a blur.
She reached up,squeezing the rails to either side of her, trying desperately not to cry. She wondered how she could have ever liked that loss of control.
"Maria?"
Michael tried to be as quiet as possible but he still startled the small girl. She had her eyes shut tightly, looking like a child who believed that if she couldn't see the monster under the bed then it couldn't see her.
Michael felt a pang of fear and realized that Isabel had equalized the connection somehow. He could now feel what Maria was feeling. She wanted him to go away almost as much as he wanted to run.
But he knew he had to be the one pushing this time. He had the advantage. He knew her so well now, not just from her memories but from the dreams, the nights where all he wanted was to be held and she lulled him with the sound of her voice.
"How did you know I would be here?" She choked back a bitter laugh. "Oh, that's right. You know everything, everything now. How stupid I was, thinking I could have something of my own."
"I'm sorry, Maria." His voice was so gentle.
Maria felt new tears rise to the surface. "You're lying."
"What?"
She opened her eyes. "I said that you are lying." She spoke each word separately, annunciating perfectly. "You're not sorry. You're glad." As soon as she said the words Michael realized they were true. "You're glad. You're glad that you're not alone anymore. You're glad I've had a shitty life. You're glad I cried over you and that I wanted you more than you wanted me. You're glad you finally have something the perfect Max Evans doesn't."
Michael saw blood on his hands and foolishly wondered if her words had done it. But no, he realized, he had. His short nails had dug into the flesh of his palms.
"That's not true, you know that's not true."
"Yes it is! You are so selfish!" She finally let herself scream. "You did this to me! You gave me all your pain and anger and now I don't know what to do with it! I can't get it out!"
Michael knelt before her on the dusty playground, remembering a dream that she couldn't. "Please Maria. I'm sorry. It was selfish. But I swear I didn't know what I was doing. I just couldn't... I couldn't..."
"What, Michael? Couldn't what?" Her eyes were red but hard.
He rested his forearms on cold metal of the merry-go-round and spoke to the peeling paint. "I couldn't let you go."
"What?" Her voice was a whisper, an echo of herself.
Michael committed the bravest act of his life. He looked her in the eyes. "I couldn't let you go. I couldn't touch you, fine. We could barely talk, I could handle that. But I couldn't not think of you." He tried on a little smile. "I'd say I'm only human but we both know that's not true."
She let out another choked laugh. "So, you went into my dreams."
"I didn't mean to, honestly. It wasn't like Isabel and Max described. I didn't touch a picture or look for dream orbs. I just thought of you and fell asleep. I thought they were my dreams. You never seemed to remember them so I told myself that they were just my dreams."
"Did they feel different?"
He nodded. "They felt real."
Maria felt the most irrational sense of envy. She was jealous of what he'd shared with her in her dreams, things she could not remember. She stood, taking Michael by surprise.
"Let's go to bed."
"Wha- What?" He spluttered.
She stepped off the merry-go-round, holding her hand to him. "It's late. We are going to go to bed."
Michael realized for the first time that the sky had started to light up with streaks of purple and pink. It was almost morning.
* * * *
"Maria, are you okay?" Liz rubbed her eyes. She had fallen asleep on Max's shoulder on Maria's worn in futon.
"Hush, Liz. Go back to bed."
Maria and Michael stepped over the sleeping Isabel, who was curled up at Liz and Max's feet. She looked childlike in hersleep, nothing like the Ice Queen or fierce Lioness she acted like when awake. Maria felt all the love Michael held for his ‘little sister' and Maria felt closer to the beautiful blonde then she ever thought possible.
Maria knelt down and kissed her on the cheek and Isabel smiled in her sleep. She pulled Michael up the stairs. Reaching her room she turned to him, her eyes dark.
Suddenly a shot of scalding lust went through her body and she gasped. "What was that?" She asked breathlessly.
"Nothing. You just triggered something."
"A dream?"
Michael smiled. "A fantasy."
He tried to push the feeling down but it wouldn't go away. He had imagined Maria leading him into her bedroom too many times.
Maria nodded and opened her door to him. The sheets were tangled on the floor. Maria guessed one of them had pulled them off during their tumble to the ground.
"Turn around." He heard her shirt fall to the ground and he couldn't help picture the sight.
Maria clutched at her stomach, overcome with his want. "Stop that."
He didn't deny it. "I can't."
He could see her body in his mind, every scar, every perfection. The slope of her neck drove him wild, the curve of her hip. She was all softness. Her hair was silk, her skin velvet. Maria felt her nipples tighten. She couldn't pick up thoughts or images from him, just feelings; hunger, desire. How was she supposed to fight his lust when she couldn't even fight her own?
"Michael?" She said his name and he knew it was an invitation.
"Maria." Hers was a prayer.
And she was there, her arms around his neck, her legs wrapped around his waist. Her breasts, encased in a plain navy blue bra, were at eye level , and he nuzzled them with his face, burying himself in her, her scent, her skin. She pulled at his shirt but it couldn't come off unless they separated.
"Make it disappear." She whispered teasingly against his ear.
It barely took him a thought with her so close. She blew against his shoulder and the shirt disintegrated into little grey fibres.
"Uh, I think I overdid it a little bit..." Michael came very close to giggling, intoxicated.
"Shut up." Maria growled, pressing her lips to his. Their tongues fought for dominance, hands touching all they could reach.
"The bed." She whispered.
He laid her down gently, just looking at her for a second. Her hair was mussed, from his hands. Her lips were red and swollen, from his kisses.
"Okay caveman, stop admiring your kill and get over here."
Michael laughed, the sound bringing almost as much delight to him as it did her. He reached his hands out to her and allowed her to pull him down on the soft mattress.
"You know when I said the dreams felt real?"
She didn't answer, just continued her ministration on his neck, licking and nipping.
"I was wrong, this is so much better."
Maria sat up suddenly. "The dreams!"
"What?" Did she remember? He prayed to a God he didn't believe in that she did.
"Well, that's what I meant to do when we came up here. I wanted to see if I could remember them now, after what happened with Izzy."
Maria didn't notice that she used Max and Michael's nickname for Isabel for the first time. She blushed. "You distracted me."
"So, you want to go to sleep then?"
Maria nodded. "Is that okay?"
Michael gulped. "Yeah, sure, no problem."
Just give me second to get myself under control, he thought. Okay, deep breaths. Do not think about how Maria is sitting beside you on her bed with her shirt still off. Just push the lust down.
Instead every light in Maria's house turned on. Downstairs Liz's hand's flew to her eyes. "Ah!" What wise guy turned allthe lights on?
"Sorry!" She heard Michael call from upstairs.
Liz mumbled expletives people probably didn't think she knew under her breath and snuggled back up to Max.
Upstairs Maria was having a giggle fit. A full blown, tears coming out of the eyes, gasping for air, giggle fit. "I'm sorry." She managed to spit outbetween laughs. "You should just see your face."
"Yeah, and if you don't stop rolling around on your bed half clothed all your lightbulbs will explode in a minute." Michael grumbled, his face heating up.
That set Maria off again. Michael turned the lights back off with a thought so he didn't have to view the tempting sight. If only his night vision wasn't so good...
Maria smacked him lightly against the shoulder. "Get your mind out of thegutter and go to bed." She grabbed the blankets off the floor and spread them over the two of them.
"I can't believe I just ruined my best shirt for you, woman." He griped as he removed his jeans under the covers, leaving him in only in plain black boxers.
Maria erupted in laughter. "Jeez, be quiet, I'm trying to get some sleep here."
But he gathered her in his arms as he spoke and smiled. It was time to dream.
* * * *
They were back at the playground, only now it was the most beautiful sunny day. Children in bright clothes were busy sliding and swinging. It all looked brand new, ten years of disrepair gone.
Maria squealed with delight. She was on the merry-go-round, it was finally her turn. She waited patiently but no one came around to push her. You couldn't spin if no one pushed you.
Maria' face crumbled, tears about to break free. "I'll spin you."
The offer was very solemn and serious. Maria looked up, tears forgotten. A young Michael Guerin shifted nervously from one foot to the other in front of her.
Maria smiled shyly. "Sure."
She grabbed on to one of the railing. Michael rolled up the arms of his red and blue striped shirt, looking at the merry-go-round determinedly. This was going to be the best spin of Maria Deluca's life.
Her hair was much longer then and it curled around her face softly. He gave her a uncertain smile that showed the gap between his front teeth. She smiled back.
"You ready?" He gripped the railing tightly and she did the same. She nodded, eyes closed.
And Michael pushed. His first push was so hard that he could barely run fast enough to keep up with the railing he was holding onto.
Maria screamed with pleasure. No one had ever gone this fast before. She clamped on the rail tighter.
Michael continued to run. He ran and ran in never-ending circles, spurned on by Maria's laughter. She sounded young and free, the way she was supposed to be.
Maria opened her eyes but she couldn't distinguish any of the smeared shapes passing in front of her eyes. Not even the little boy pushing themerry-go-round.
"Michael! Michael!" She called. "Jump on!"
Michael kept running. "Come on, Michael!"
He clenched the rail, pulling himself on the platform with an effort. And there was Maria, but it wasn't the seven year old Maria anymore with the curls and pretty dresses. It was his Maria, and she looked at him with wonder. The world continued to spin and spin and suddenly they were kissing and kissing and she was all around him, all he could sense was her.
He felt dizzy and weak. The world became a blur that couldn't touch them and they were safe, reeling in each other's arms. They were alone together. Finally.