Title: At The Day's End
Part: 1
Author: Aster
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah--rub it in. I don't own any of the characters.
Summary: Read and find out
Category: Michael/Maria
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: All the way up to Sexual Healing
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Never. Never in her life had she wanted so much to�to kiss him. To hold him. To press her body against his. The slightest brush of their hands unnerved he to the bone. Being alone with him, she could hardly breathe. To feel all of his energy focused on her, it made her lightheaded. And then, kissing and more kissing. And when it was so intense, and they were breathing in unison, and directing all their energy to eachother--then the world was only for them. Because it was different with him. Sure, there was the overwhelming passion, and even a trace of teenage lust. But when she broke through his layers of defense, she was thrown into a whirlwind of their combined emotions. And although there were no words or distinct thoughts, she could feel herself wanted him, and feel him feeling her wanted him, and feel him being happy because of this. And feeling him want her in return.
That was how she knew it was different. Because he returned love.
Oh God! How could she possibly love him? They didn't even know each other and they were always fighting and whenever they got close they just pulled away and hell she didn't even know what shoe size he was!
Maria sighed. This so sucks.
And she couldn't even think those words to herself without flinching at the word 'sucks.'
She sat in her last period class tapping her pencil and staring dazed at the clock. 2:07:46,2:07:48,2:07:49�
She really needed a hobby. Other than Micheal.
Lucky for her, Micheal only went to school if he needed to talk to Max or Is, or if he wanted to taunt the teachers. She doubted if he remembered the ABC's. That'd be a real miracle.
"Oh, come on stupid, stupid bell�" Maria mumbled inaudibly.
"Something to say, Miss DeLuca?"
Maria jolted at the sound of her name and sat stunned for a moment before slightly shaking her head no. He mocked her, and she managed, "No, um, Mr.�uh, sir." Damn, she was so distracted. Couldn't even remember that ass hole's name.
"And who will you be working with?"
She was at a loss of words, having no idea whatsoever what he was babbling about. "Uh�I work with Liz sometimes, when we have the same shift."
He gave he a caught-you-in-the-act smile. She hated those. "I'd appreciate if you'd pick someone from this class so that you can present together."
The bell signaling the end of a hard day echoed in the classroom.
"Class dismissed." When Maria finished gathering her stuff and passed by his desk, he said "Saved by the bell" under his breath. Her face flushed.
She rushed out the door and headed to her locker on the other side of campus. Turning a corner, she came to a sudden halt when she saw who was waiting for her at her locker.
The spiked brown hair was unmistakable; she had gotten into the habit of recognizing the back of his head. And his jacked was dirty, as usual, as were his hanging blue jeans. She was glad that the jacket covered the area where his boxers were exposed. She was mentally preparing how to confront him, when he turned around as she was in mid-thought.
And that was when she realized that he had left his jacket open in front, and her eyes were drawn instinctively downward.
"Ahem."
"Huh?" she asked in a rush. She mentally snapped herself out of the trance-like state she had been in because of the 3 seemingly large inches of his boxers. Well, that answers one of my questions," she thought, and a smile settled on her lips. She strolled up casually to her locker, hips swaying slightly from side to side. Now she had obviously caught his attention. She stopped just short of him, and talked while fumbling with her lock. "So, are you taking up a new interest in human activity?"
He leaned against the row of lockers and crossed his arms over his well-built chest. "Well, just one in particular." His voice was clearly hinting, and her smile grew into a large grin.
"A human girl caught your eye? Wow, this being stated from the guy with the biggest ego in the galaxy."
"I didn't say it was a girl."
"So it's a guy, then?"
He caught on to her game, and decided to play along. "Oh no, it's a girl, all right."
"Beautiful?"
"Very." Her heart throbbed. "But I wouldn't touch her."
Maria froze as this registered. "What?!"
He was clearly having fun. "Nope. Not if she was bought me a lifetime supply of Playboy magazines and a Ferrari and offered to have wild sex with me�"
Maria's mouth hung open. Literally. Speechless, she threw her English Lit book at him and he broke into laughter, a childish grin spread across his face.
She was gonna whack him with something else, but then the words he had been using clicked into place. "Wait, she?"
He nodded, still cracking up. He managed between chuckles, "Yeah, you want�me to�get with Liz? Cause the idea�of an orgy between us three�seems rather appealing!" He burst into another round of hysterics and raised up an arm in defense, awaiting the impact.
But she didn't hit him. So he thought she was going to laugh, but she was silent. He was double over from the laughter, and now he rose to look at her. She was facing her locker; she still hadn't managed to get it open. Her bangs cast a shadow over her eyes, and he reached out a hand to pull them away.
She pulled away before he even touched a thread of her beautiful golden hair. He lifted his hands to show that he meant no harm, and she was facing him with her head to the ground. A ray of sunlight shown through on her face, and there were twin trails across her cheeks. He considered trying to comfort her, but then thought better of it. Instead he offered, "Let me help with your locker-"
"No!" she screamed suddenly and shrilly, and he was grateful that the halls had cleared out. "You just...you fuck up everything!" She turned and stomped away, not bothering to pick up the book she had thrown at him. He watched her round the corner in a fury, then bent down to pick up the book, perplexed as ever.
~~~~~
Isabel met her brother, Max, in front of their Jeep. Max had arrived there first; Isabel always stopped in the ladies room to check her hair and makeup. She didn't like the other girls that crowded in, gossiping about how far they got with so and so, 'like totally for sure.' But sacrifices had to be made to maintain Isabel's beauty. In her opinion, it was well worth it. Because she could feel the eyes of the other girls as she gracefully departed, every hair in place.
She knew Max would be leaning against the driver's side, hand in his pocket, ready to jump in and start the ignition as soon as he caught sight of her. He waited until she was inside with her seatbelt in place before putting the car in reverse and eventually pulling out of the parking lot and heading home.
The drive was short, and they had their usual talk about what had gone on, how much homework eachother had, just minor issues. Max told her that he had a full load of biology, so he probably wouldn't be able to go to the Crashdown until the evening if at all. Isabel saw no reason to stay home, so she changed clothes and took the Jeep to the Crashdown. She was hoping that Micheal at least would come, but even if he did, she knew it would be a while because he didn't have a car. Is wondered who would be working this afternoon. Liz, the girl dating Max, well she was okay. It was that yapping one that Is absolutely couldn't stand. The one who was always flirting with Micheal. She was always toying with his mind; another stupid human girl playing her way into Micheal's heart. Nothing short of a whore.
She walked through the glass door and caught the stares in her peripheral vision. She wondered how many of the men were married as she sat at her usual booth. She focused her eyes on the hand of her watch. 2:38. I should have brought something to do, she mentally scolded. She wasn't used to sitting alone. She wondered if she should flirt with one of the many guys with their eyes fixed on her�Ugh, nevermind. She looked around for anyone halfway decent, and her attention was guided to a waitress at the other end of the room. The girl was a complete klutz. Seriously, she was wearing the wrong uniform. What that girl needed was a florescent outfit with a wig and huge red shoes.
Damn, that girl is just horribly uncoordinated. But she was putting on a good show for the customers, so nobody seemed to be complaining. And she was quite a thing to look at. Nevermind the wig; you could tell by her bright red curls that her fiend, Miss Clairol, had seriously betrayed the poor girl. And she had a stunning figure--not as good as Is, but voluptuous to say the least. And she had a cute little button nose that made her look so innocent. Dirty bastards, Is thought, judging by the way they were checking that girl out. She seemed so helpless. And although she would never admit it, Is was a little jealous that she wasn't getting all the attention.
The stupid girl was saved when Liz called her name. So Liz is working here today. She was relieved that she wouldn't have to put up with Miss Push-Up. She waited patiently as Liz came out to take the stupid girl's place, and eventually arrived at her booth.
"Isabel, hey." Liz hovered over Is with her pencil ready. God, that annoyed Is. Why couldn't that girl just go with the flow for once? She is so stiff.
"So who's the new girl," asked Is as a tray was heard dropping in the back of the restaurant. She decided she would be decent to her brother's girl. Everyone had shifted their attention to the back of the room in response to the clamor, including Liz and Is. Liz let out a sigh and turned back, apologetically, to Is. "Her name's Sheila. My parents hired her, I guess because they felt sorry. But they basically put me in charge of her." Is felt empathy for her, which was apparent in her eyes. Liz smiled in appreciation, and the entrance door opened.
Micheal came marching in with his usual what-the-fuck-are-you-staring-at expression. He had the balls to glare at some of the guys who looked older and buffer. Micheal's friends worried about him. They all knew that somebody was gonna kick his ass one day, other than his ex-foster father.
He walked past Liz and slid into the spot across from Is. "I don't understand women" was his opening line; not "hello" or "how's it going?"
"That's because you're a guy, and a lame one at that," Isabel shot back with a glare. "You're in denial that women are superior over men in all races." it was just a joke, but Micheal didn't take it as such.
"See!" Micheal shouted, gesturing to Is. "I don't get that either! Why do women think they're better than men are, and that's okay, but men can't think they're better than women?!" He rested his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. What a show the customers are getting.
"What happened between you and Maria now? God, she's always causing trouble in our lives. "
Maybe it wasn't the best thing to say around Liz. "How do you know Maria did anything?" she questioned defensively.
"Was it Maria?" Is asked unemotionally.
Micheal nodded pitifully.
Liz sat down beside him and put a delicate arm around him. "Well Micheal, what happened. I mean, you're really upset." Is wondered if she really cared or if she was just trying to make herself look good.
Suddenly Micheal lifted his head and slammed his palms down on the table. "You know what? I don't need you hanging on me acting as if we're best friends."
"But we are friends?" Liz was hurt by his harsh tone.
"Hardly," he said with his usual ass hole attitude. "Now if you don't mind, I have places to be which don't include being anywhere near you or your little blonde friend." Liz scrambled out of the booth and watched dumbfoundedly as he paraded out he door.
"Gosh. No wonder he and Maria never get along." She didn't even direct the comment toward Isabel, but Is was on the defense anyway.
"So you're saying this is all Micheal's fault?" Is demanded.
"Saying what is all Micheal's fault? I don't even know what's going on."
"Then you should keep your mouth shut." Is wondered if she was being unfair to the girl, but she was angry and she didn't know why, and that made her angry even more.
"Isabel, you're taking this all the wrong way. If we're gonna argue about it, hen let's not say anything at all."
"Isn't that always the case? Well I wonder why you and Max never get anywhere."
Liz almost said, 'A lot farther than you and Alex--all you do is drag him around by the ear,' but she held her tongue. "If you won't order anything, I'll go to the next table."
Is picked up her purse and stood up. "Go right ahead. I was just leaving." She emphasized the word.
Liz watched Isabel leave the Crashdown and get in her car. I hope it doesn't start, she thought, and then regretted it. She didn't get a chance to see whether or not it did because Sheila called to her and there was another crash.
| 1 | Unfinished