Title: Sweet Dreams
Part: 3
Author: Tecla
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: I don't own anything blah, blah, blah, you get the picture.
Summary: Maria is having strange dreams and Max has a secret.
Category: Unconventional - Max/Maria
Rating: PG

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There was nowhere for Maria to hide. She couldn't even think her head was too busy swimming with confusion. Well, on second thought it wasn't confusion, it was denial. Denial to the fact that Max really did love her for some strange reason and that now she was starting to feel the same way about him. In the beginning she refused to believe it, but as the days went by her feelings grew deeper and deeper and she was afraid that the more she left the issue unsettled, the more she was gonna hurt everyone around her.

It had been two days since that little incident with Max, and Maria had been avoiding him ever since. When he came into the Crashdown, Maria would run to the back or make up some excuse that she had to get home early or something like that. She could sense that Max was getting stressed with her. That was another very weird thing, Maria knew exactly how Max was feeling at all times. Maybe it was a special connection thing they had going on.

"How's my favorite girl?" Michael asked cheerfully as he walked into the Crashdown.

"I'm okay thanx," Maria said, forcing a smile.

"You don't fool me one bit de Luca. I know you're upset about me not being able to make it the other day, but Max sorted everything out, didn't he?"

"Oh he sure did," Maria muttered under her breath.

"What?" Michael asked.

"Nothing." Maria said, starting to fill the sugar pots. Michael walked around the counter to where Maria was and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I can make it up to you," he said burring his mouth into the crook of her neck.

"Stop it Michael, that tickles!" Maria giggled.

"Please, I'm feeling very active tonight," he said playfully, sliding his hands through her hair.

"Oh really and what's that suppose to mean," Maria sniggered. She looked over his shoulder and saw Max coming inside.

"Uh, Michael, I think we need a little privacy, don't you?" she said, pulling him into the back.

She shut the door and pushed him up against it.

"Maria, what are you-"

"Shut up and kiss me." Michael wasted no time on that remark. As he shifted Maria onto his lap, she pushed him up against the wall and they fell onto the couch.

"Should we really do this here?" he asked, looking around.

"Why not?" she said, pulling him back towards her. He moved his lips down to her neck as Maria took in some air. She looked out of a little window that looked into the caf� and noticed Max staring at them. She got this weird feeling and pushed Michael off her.

"You're right, maybe this isn't such a good idea," she said getting up.

"What did I do?" Michael said confused.

"Nothing just, I don't wanna do this here."

"Maria what's up with you?" he asked her totally perplexed.

"Michael, I have to get back to work, I'll see you."

"Yeah, whatever," Michael said as he threw his hands against his sides. As soon as he was out of sight, she straightened her apron and went out to face Max.

"Can I get you anything?" she said in typical waitress style.

"Yeah, can I talk to you," Maria felt her heart skip a few beats and her head suddenly went all dizzy. She put her on hand on the counter to steady herself.

"I'm sorry, I just took my break. I can't take another one, Liz won't let me." Maria looked over at Liz who was clearing a table and Max turned around to see what Maria was looking at. When he saw it was Liz an uneasy look crossed his face.

"Maria listen to me, this is not gonna go away we need to deal with it," Max whispered.

"Max unless you haven't noticed I don't want to hurt the people I care about. You keep making it harder for me." She paused and smiled at a costumer that had just paid.

"Enjoy the rest of your day," she said to the man.

"I love the way you do that," Max said to her.

"Stop it Max. God I don't know what to do anymore," she buried her face in her hands and ran them down to her neck.

"Well I can tell you one thing, making out with Michael won't help one bit," Max taunted. Maria looked up at him and gave him a scornful look.

"Max, let's get one thing straight, okay. If we are going to sort this out you don't come in here and mock me on my decisions." Maria looked at Max who looked so hurt. Now she felt guilty. Great. She sighed and leaned in towards him. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"You did, but I guess it's okay to honest right?" Max said to her.

"Yeah I guess. Look do you want to meet me tonight. At my place we can talk there," Maria suggested.

"Sounds great, I'll see you then," Max said to her getting up.

"Bye," Maria smiled. He returned it and it was only at that moment that Maria noticed how cute Max actually looked when he smiled.

"Was that Max?" Liz said from behind Maria.

"God Liz, don't scare me like that!" Maria said putting her hand on her chest.

"Why, were you having a secret meeting with my boyfriend?" Maria's eyes widened.

"Maria, it's a joke. So I saw you and Michael disappear into the back," Liz said raising and eyebrow.

"He wanted to talk, that's all," Maria said getting back to work.

"I see, so why was Max here?" Liz said getting back to their original question.

"He wanted to borrow my Bio file for the test on Monday," Maria said quickly.

"Oh. I'm his partner, why didn't he just ask me?"

"I have no idea Liz, why don't you go ask him!" Maria snapped.

"Okay I'll just leave you alone now cause you seem really stressed," Liz said backing up.

"Liz, I'm tired okay I didn't mean it."

"I know, it's okay. Listen I have to leave work early today for this thing I'm doing with my dad, you know, the father-daughter-thing so can you lock up?"

"Sure it's the least I can do. You've been such a star lately." Liz laughed and went back to serving the costumers. If this thing about Maria and Max got out in the open it would hurt her most of all. Maria shivered just thinking about it. But hopefully when she talked to Max tonight everything would be fine and they could all get on with their lives. But if Max really loved her like he said he did, could love that strong disappear just like it came?

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Not Finished
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1