| Please It was his senior year in high school. He didn�t know how much more he could last. The only reason he had to wake up in the morning had left him the day after the junior prom. He cried himself to sleep every night sense then. He thought about her constantly�what she was doing, where she was, and most importantly, why she left. He sighed as he returned to what he was drawing. Michael stood in front of the easel and looked at the picture of Maria he had just got through drawing. He couldn�t help but wonder if you looks had changed. ***** And she had. Ever since she had met Dylan she changed. She looked over at the sleeping form next to her and smiled. She hated the fact that she had to leave Max, Isabel, Liz, and Michael. Michael, she thought. God she missed him. She wanted to see him so bad. She wanted to tell him why she had to go and what had happened since she left. But she knew she couldn�t. If she went back to Roswell, she was certain that everyone would hate her. Hell, her own mother had kicked her out of the house when she found out. She sighed as she rolled out of bed to start a new day. ***** Liz reached inside her mailbox, hoping for a letter from Maria. Ever since Maria left, Liz hoped that Maria would write her�just one time, that�s all she wanted. Every day she hoped but her hopes were always in vain�until today. She knew that handwriting anywhere! She had finally gotten a letter from Maria! But what was strange about it was that the letter was from California. Had Maria gone to California after the prom? Liz ran hurriedly up her stairs to read the letter. She soon wished she hadn�t. In the letter, Maria spilled her heart out to Liz, telling her everything that had happened ever since she left. Liz cried the entire time she had read it. She couldn�t believe what Maria had just told her. Or maybe she didn�t want to believe it. ***** �Hello?� Max asked into his phone. �Hey Max,� Liz told him through her tears. Max instantly sat up in bed. �Liz what�s wrong?� Max asked. �Can you just come over here right now?� Liz begged him. �Yeah I�ll be there in about five minutes,� he promised. �Thanks. Bye,� Liz said as she hug up. Max couldn�t think of one other thing except Maria that would make Liz cry so much. He hated Maria since she left for making Liz and Michael cry so much. But he didn�t have time to think about that, his Liz was hurting and she needed him. ***Five Minutes Later*** �Liz?� Max asked softly as he climbed up her stairs. �Max?� Liz asked. She was still crying. Max rushed over to her and held her in his arms. �Liz, what�s wrong?� he asked softly. �Read this,� Liz instructed, shoving the piece of paper in his hand. Max quickly read the letter, not believing what he was reading. �I can�t believe this.� �Me either.� �I just don�t understand why she didn�t come to anybody about it. She didn�t even come to you for God�s sake!� �She was probably scared. Her mom kicked her out of the house so she probably thought that we would be mad at her.� �Why would she think that? We�re her best friends.� �I think she was more worried about a certain someone hating her more than us.� �But Michael loves her, he would understand.� �Max, what happened was big and never deserved to happen to her. He might who did it, but he wouldn�t understand.� �Why are you so certain?� �I know Michael.� �So do I and I don�t think he�d go crazy if we told him.� �Max, please, Maria asked me not to tell Michael and I�m going to abide by that. Now, I�m asking you Max to not tell Michael,� Liz pleaded. �Liz, he�s my best friend,� Max started. �Please Max,� Liz asked, her eyes begging him agree. �Okay, Liz. I won�t tell him,� Max promised as he sat next to Liz and let her fall asleep on his shoulder. ***Two Years Later at UCLA*** �I can�t believe that we�ve been in college for two years!� Isabel said excited. �Yeah, we got that. You�ve only said it three times in the past ten minutes,� Michael commented. �Shut up Michael,� Isabel said, slapping him lightly on the arm. �Oh come on Isabel, cut the man some slack. He�s been through a lot in the past three years,� Liz whispered to the girl sitting next to her. Liz had forced all of them to enroll in UCLA for one reason�Maria. The last letter Liz had gotten from Maria before graduation told Liz that she had been accepted at UCLA with a major in clothing design and a minor in singing. Liz went straight to Max with this information and begged him to get everybody else to enroll. Isabel knew what she was thinking. Max had told her right after he left Liz�s that night. Liz had said not to tell Michael, she didn�t mention Isabel. She probably knew that Max would have told her anyway. She hated keeping a secret from Michael but Max made her swear. And then when he asked her to enroll at UCLA, she had to tell him that the school had already accepted her. That was the first happy moment since Maria had left between any of them. If Maria could get in, anybody could�even Michael. She laughed silently as she remembered what Max looked like when she told him that. �So Michael, have you decided what your major�s gonna be?� Isabel asked, breaking the silence. �Yeah, I�m going to major in art but I haven�t decided my minor yet,� Michael admitted, looking away. Something to the left caught his eye. He squinted and what he saw, he couldn�t believe. Was that Maria standing over there? It couldn�t be! �Michael!� Max called, bringing him out of his stupor. �What?� Michael asked, getting mad. �It�s about time! I�ve called your name about three times! What were you looking at?� Max persisted. �Nothing,� Michael lied. �I�ve gotta go. My class is starting in about ten minutes. Bye,� he said, grabbing his books and leaving. �I�ll be right back,� Liz said, getting up from beside Isabel. She ran in the direction where Michael was looking and she then saw what he was looking at�Maria. �Maria!� �Liz?!� Maria looked over at Liz and smiled. Maria ran to her friend and hugged her for all she was worth. �Maria! I�ve missed you so much!� Liz said, crying. �Liz, don�t cry! I�ve missed you to!� Maria said, hugging her tighter. �How�s everybody else?� �Why don�t come and see for yourself?� Liz smiled and began pulling Maria in the direction of Max and Isabel. �Liz. . .� Maria began. �Don�t worry, Michael�s gone off to class,� Liz assured as she kept pulling. �Wait a minute Liz. Did you just say �off to class�?� Maria asked pulling her arm from Liz�s grasp. �Yeah. And yeah, Maria. Michael�s enrolled here too,� Liz smiled. Maria sighed and looked up and saw Max smile at her. She smiled back and ran to Max and Isabel. �Maria!� Max yelled as he wrapped his arms around Maria. �Hey Maria,� Isabel smiled. ��Hey Maria�! Is that all I get?� Maria said playfully. Maria held her arms for a hug from Isabel and Isabel did the same. The two girls shared a hug as Liz went and stood beside Max. �So Maria what have you been up to? Besides the obvious,� Isabel asked. �Well, actually, I can�t stay long. I have to go and model for some dumb art class so that they can draw me. When I get back though, I�ll tell you everything,� Maria promised. �I�ll see ya�ll later.� �Bye,� they called simultaneously. ***** Michael sat down in the chair that was behind his easel and thought about Maria. Was that really her that I saw? he thought. It couldn�t be. This girl was taller than Maria and she had longer hair. Think genius! You haven�t seen her in three years! People change! a voice told him. He had never dated anyone since Maria left�he was reserved for Maria. But he had to admit, that girl was hot. �Good morning ladies and gentlemen. My name is Mr. Gooding. Normally we don�t do this so early in the school year, but the board thinks that we need to start doing art type things early in the school year and we have no choice but to do what they say. So today, we have a very beautiful woman here who is going to model for everyone to draw,� the teacher said to the class. Michael looked around and noticed that the class was divided, almost perfectly, of both males and females. He unconsciously looked for the girl he had seen earlier. �Now I know how male minds work, so I don�t want any gawking or whistling,� Mr. Gooding went on. The girls rolled their eyes and the guys smiled. �She�s just trying to make some extra money. So would all of you please welcome Ms. Maria Deluca.� Michael�s head snapped up at Maria�s name. Did he just say �Maria Deluca�? As in my Maria Deluca? It just couldn�t be the same person. Maria stepped through the door and heard all the guys gasp. She saw the stool and went and sat down, she knew then that there was no backing out now. She saw as every person in the classroom picked up their pencils and start drawing her. Dylan. You�re doing this for Dylan, Maria kept repeating in her mind. Mr. Gooding looked around to make sure that every one was drawing Maria. He had almost finished before he saw Michael. Michael was just looking at Maria. �Mister Guerin, would you like to participate in the class or just stare at the model all day?� At the mention of Michael�s name, Maria�s head whipped to look at Mr. Gooding. �Can I just look at her?� Michael said. Maria knew that voice. She slowly turned her head and saw the Michael had stood up. �Well, Mr. Guerin, that�s not an option,� the teacher told him. �Well then why did you ask if I wanted to look at her or not?� Michael asked, not taking his eyes off Maria. �I�m sure that Ms. Deluca would like you to draw her rather than stare at her,� Mr. Gooding told Michael. �Actually, I don�t mind him looking,� Maria said. Michael�s heart nearly stopped when she spoke. He hadn�t heard that voice in so long. Then he sat down and frantically began to draw. He drew every intricate detail. He was so afraid that she would leave after this and that he would never have anything to remember her by. ***One Hour Later*** �Okay, I want everybody to have a drawing of a person done by Friday!� Mr. Gooding told his students before the bell rang. �Thank you for letting my students draw you Ms. Deluca,� Mr. Gooding told her. �Thank you,� Maria said, shaking his hand and smiling. The bell rang and the students walked out of the classroom. Maria had nearly walked out the door before she heard someone calling her. �Maria,� Michael said. �Michael?� Maria asked, afraid that it was really him. �Look at me,� Michael pleaded. Maria turned around and found Michael standing directly in front of her. He looked so beautiful; she just couldn�t take her eyes off his face. �I�ve missed you so much Maria,� Michael said, hugging her. He breathed in her scent and held her tighter�never wanting to let her go. Maria pushed his arms off of her and took his face in his hands and kissed him on his cheek gently. �I�ve missed you too Michael.� �Why�d you leave?� She knew that he would ask her that sooner or later, but she wished it was later. �I can�t tell you right here, right now Michael. Meet me at my apartment tonight at 7 and I�ll answer any questions you have,� Maria answered. �Okay Maria. I�ll get Liz to drive me,� Michael said. �I�ll see you at 7,� he said, kissing her cheek. And then he was gone. Maria breathed a heavy sigh and went home to prepare for 7 o�clock. ***7 o�clock That Night*** Maria stirred the spaghetti noodles and looked at the clock. 7 o�clock. She took a deep breath and waited for the doorbell to ring. Ding-dong. Oh no, Maria thought. �Here we go,� Maria said to Dylan. Dylan just smiled. �Hi Michael,� Maria smiled. Oh my God! She looked so beautiful! She was wearing a small black that accented her hips. He noticed while he was drawing her that her hips were slightly more flared than they used to be but he put it off to nothing. �Hi Maria,� Michael smiled. �Would you like to come in?� Maria asked, stepping out of the doorway. �Thank you,� Michael said, coming in her apartment. �Michael, there�s someone I want you to meet,� Maria smiled. �I�ll be right back.� �Okay,� Michael said, sitting down on the couch. Oh no. What if she had found some one else? What if she�s gone to get her boyfriend, or worse, her husband?! These thought circled around Michael�s mind until her heard Maria�s humming coming from the kitchen. �Michael, I�d like you to meet Dylan. . .my son,� Maria said, holding Dylan. Oh my God! She has a baby! �Is he the reason why you left?� Michael said, not taking his eyes off Dylan. �Yeah. It�s a long story,� Maria confessed. �I�ve got time,� Michael said, moving over so Maria could sit down. �Okay, Michael please don�t overreact, please,� Maria pleaded. �I promise, but on one condition�let me hold Dylan,� Michael asked. Maria smiled and placed Dylan in Michael�s arms. The three of them instantly formed a connection. Mother-son-a man who wants to be a father and husband. �Okay, it all started at the prom. Right before the last dance. Alex rushed me into a room, saying something about how he was in trouble. It was then I realized that he had taken me into the girls� locker room and that he locked the door. I was so scared! He had this look in his eyes that I had never seen before and I knew exactly what he was going to do. I heard the song for the last dance come on and I wanted to be out of there and with you so bad! But Alex blocked the door and when he got his hands on me, he never let go. I screamed and screamed but the music was too loud and nobody heard me. So Alex had pulled my dress up and my panties down. And he also had his pants down too. The whole �sex� part lasted no more than a minute. But he got what he wanted�my virginity. Something I was saving for you later that night. I was left there on the locker room floor bleeding. But I had to get out of there, so I grabbed some towels and got cleaned up and went off in search of Liz. When I found her, I was crying and Alex and Isabel were leaving. And I couldn�t go to you because I was too scared. Max and Liz took me home and snuck me into the house. About three months later, I got a pregnancy test and it came back positive. And then mom found the test and kicked me out. That�s when I came out here. I wrote to Liz a lot when I first came out here. But then I stopped�that�s when Dylan was born. I told Liz that I had had Dylan and I asked her not to tell you. I�ve loved you ever since I left but I have dated some guys. But most of them turned out to be jerks or they would find out about Dylan and leave. I was afraid that that would happen with you. That you would find out and that you wouldn�t love me anymore. I knew you still did because Liz told me that you did. Then I got accepted to UCLA and here we are now. Do you understand what I�m saying?� �So Dylan is Alex�s son?� Michael said, looking at Maria. �Yeah,� Maria told him. �And you were going to lose your virginity to me that night?� �Yeah.� �Maria, what do you have planned for tomorrow?� �I have class but other than that nothing.� �Skip class and stay with me. You and Dylan.� �Why don�t you stay here?� �Maria, do you know what I�m asking you?� �Yeah I do and yes Michael.� �Really?� Michael asked. He immediately regretted asking that, but he didn�t want to do something Maria didn�t want to. �Yes Michael,� Maria said, moving closer to him and kissed him. Dylan pulled on his mom�s hair and Maria pulled back from Michael. �Let me go and feed him and get him to bed,� Maria said, taking Dylan from Michael. �You don�t happen to have any dinner for me too? I haven�t had anything to eat since I saw you today,� Michael said, getting up off the couch and following Maria into the kitchen. �Yeah, come on,� Maria said, holding the door open for Michael. �Thanks,� Michael smiled. �I hope you like spaghetti because that�s what I made.� �I�ll like anything you make.� �Okay, hand me those plates,� Maria said putting Dylan in a chair. �These?� Michael asked, pointing to the ones in the cupboard. �Yeah, thanks,� Maria smiled as Michael started to put the spaghetti on the plates. �Is this enough for Dylan?� Michael asked. �Yeah, that�s just right,� Maria smiled, getting the plate from Michael and putting it in front of Dylan. Michael got him and Maria some spaghetti and sat down at the table. Michael watched Maria watching Dylan. She still looked angelic, nothing about her face had changed accept her hair was longer. But to be honest, he liked it long. �Michael, can clean up the dishes while I go put Dylan up?� Maria asked, putting the dishes beside the sink. �Sure,� Michael agreed as he went to work on the dishes. �Thank you,� Maria said before she left the kitchen. Five minutes later, Maria walked back in the kitchen and saw Michael putting up the dishes. �All I asked for was for you to wash the dishes, not put them up,� Maria smiled. �I know you. What you meant was �Michael, can you wash the dishes and put them up too?� I know you Maria,� Michael smiled. �Back to our original conversation, do you still want to? I don�t want to do. . .� Maria quieted him by putting one finger over his lips. �I�m sure.� �Are you?� �Please. Love me tonight Michael,� Maria pleaded before she pressed her lips to Michael�s in a passionate kiss. ***The Next Morning*** Maria woke up with a smile on her face. She thought that yesterday had been a dream. But when she awoke and felt a protective arm wrapped around her middle, she knew it wasn�t. She easily maneuvered herself so that she could look at Michael�s face. �Beautiful,� Maria said quietly. �That�s what I say about you,� Michael smiled. �Good morning handsome,� Maria said, kissing him. �Good morning beautiful,� Michael said, kissing her. �I need to go check on Dylan,� Maria said, pulling Michael�s arm off of her. �No. Just stay here a little longer. Please?� Michael pleaded. �Okay,� Maria said before settling herself into his arms. �I could get used to this,� Michael smiled as he felt Maria drift off to sleep in his arms. The End! |