| �Valenti.� �Guerin.� �What�s up?� �Not much.� �Cool.� Kyle glanced down at his watch, then back at Michael. �Is it midterms yet?� �No idea.� �Cool.� �Yeah.� �So what you doin� at school this early, man?� �Pulling an Evans.� �Wha�� �I�m pulling an Evans, Valenti. Don�t you recognize it?� Kyle eyed Michael critically. Aside from the fact that he was at school, he couldn�t really think of any other way this was pulling an Evans. There was something different about him, though. Something Kyle just couldn�t pinpoint. �Michael.� Both Michael and Kyle turned to see Isabel Evans approaching them. The crowd parted at the sight of lovely Isabel. �Yes, Ms. Evans?� Kyle had half expected Michael to say Evans, I. just because he doesn�t call anyone other than Maria by first name. Kyle supposed Ms. Evans was better. Isabel raised her hand, her eyes flashing in rage. Nobody cheated on Maria. Nobody humiliated Maria in public like that! This was the first time she saw Michael after she heard about the Liz incident, which by the way Isabel still had to make Liz pay for. There was no way Michael was lone in the responsibility. �Oh my gosh you have a new hairstyle!� she gasped. And then she looked him up and down, making Michael shift uncomfortably from foot to foot. �And your clothes are pressed. Is that a homework in your hand?� Kyle turned to look at Michael, finally seeing what he couldn�t pinpoint a while ago. �Oh yeah�� �What are you trying to do, Michael?� Isabel demanded. Michael shrugged. Uh-oh. Bad move, Guerin. Every other guy in Roswell High knew that when Isabel Evans asked you a question, you answer her, even if you have to haul out all the volumes of Britannica for it. �What�s up with the bathed boy eager for education bit?!� �Aha!� Kyle said out loud. He was pullin� a friggin� Evans! �Brilliant, man! Brilliant!� �Ugh.� Isabel whirled around, starting to walk away. But then she turned her head to give Michael an ugly look. �You hurt her, Michael. That means you�re in my bad book. If you ever try to go near her to hurt her again, I�ll rip out your eyes even if I just got my nails done, and then I�ll bury the heel of my stilettos in your gut and twist it until your intestines are wrapped around it. Afterwards I�ll use my tweezers to pull out every d-amn hair on your leg, but not after I use my eyeliner to draw a bull�s eye mark on your forehead. And only then, Michael, only then will the real torture begin.� With as much sophistication as she had when she arrived, Isabel Evans walked away, leaving a slack-jawed Kyle and Michael staring after her. The student body who until then stood mesmerized started clapping at Isabel Evans. Kyle blinked once. Blinked twice. Then thrice. �So sexy, man. That was so sexy.� �Okay,� Michael said after a while. �That scared me a little.� �Are you gonna let one measly girl scare you away from going after your one true love?� �No,� Michael responded. �But a girl with a make-up kit, I have to think twice about.� They walked down the hallway together. He took a deep breath. �I�m going in,� Michael announced gravely. �Good luck, man. You will survive.� �Thanks. I needed that,� he admitted. And with that Michael entered his History class. ~~ Maria settled back against the couch in the backroom of the Crashdown. The day had been hellish. Her mom had drunken a little too much the night before, and she had the worst hangover this morning. Maria had to rush back and forth getting her mom things to make her comfortable. It didn�t make it easy that Amy barfed on the bed. When she finished cleaning up and the mess and getting her mom settled in her room, she was already late for class. She finally arrived at school at third period, but she was in no mood to come to class. All she wanted to do was curl up and cry. Back when she and Michael were dating, she could call Michael up at his house at the first sign of trouble with her mom. Then he�d come at once, with his own hangover medicine recipe. They�d make Amy drink it, and then they�d go to the living room and cuddle. Michael always knew how much strain it put on Maria to take care of her mom when she�s like this. He understood and never forced her to talk about her feelings. He would just hug her. When she cried, he�d hug her tighter. And they�d be late to school together but it didn�t matter. Maria walked into the eraser room by herself and slid down to sit on the floor. And she started sobbing. She always had so much to let out whenever this happened. She supposed she could go find Max and see if he could comfort her. But for some reason, something inside her rebelled at the thought of letting Max know what�s going on. She didn�t want him to judge her family life. And if Max disapproved, she would be so hurt. The door swung open. She forgot to lock it, d-ammit! �It�s occupied!� �Amy?� �Yeah.� She used her palms to wipe away the tears. Of all the times to forget a handkerchief! He handed a tissue to her, and she grabbed it and dabbed at her eyes. Wait a minute� tissue? Michael? Maria looked up to see her ex-boyfriend in an entirely new look for him. She decided not to mention it. Who was she to comment when she was the one who first paraded in this fake look of hers? �Sorry,� he said gruffly. �I would�ve been there if I knew.� Michael settled beside her and drew her close. �Even if you decided you don�t ever want to take me back, I want you to know I�ll be here for you for anything, Maria.� Because her heart had been so heavy and she felt like her chest would burst, she let go. She turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around him. She sobbed into his chest. �It�s too much, Michael. I can�t do it anymore.� �I�m here,� he whispered. �You�re not gonna do it alone. I�m here.� �I kept thinking, you know, that I wanted you to hold me. But we�re not together anymore.� He kissed her on the top of her head. �I don�t need to be your boyfriend to be your friend, Maria,� he told her. �Although I want to be both.� Maria slowly, reluctantly, pulled away from Michael. �I�m with Max.� �I know.� �I�m not going to cheat on him. I can�t kiss you.� �Maria, I�m sorry for the�� She held up her hand to silence him. �I forgive you, Michael. What you did� it kinda makes up for it, you know.� It stung. He didn�t want Maria to think that she did it just so she�d forgive him for the stupid thing he�d done. �You weren�t in class today. I got you your homework. And here�s for the class you have with Valenti. I made him take notes for you.� Actually, he took Valenti�s notes for him, with a promise that he�d get the phone number of the new girl, Tess Harding, for him. How Michael would do that he had no idea, but he said yes anyway, just to get Maria those notes. �Oh that was awful nice of him. And thanks, Michael!� Maria took the sheaf of papers from Michael. �You were in class?� she said in shock, reacting belatedly. �I thought I�d do something to deserve you for once. I can�t continue freeloading you know� riding on the fact that you�re in love with me and all. When I get you back, it�s gonna be because of my merit.� Maria just smiled at him, unsure of what to say. Sure, she still loved him. She doubted that she�d ever stop. But she also loved Max. Did that make her a bad person? Michael opened the door for her, and followed her outside. To their surprise, Liz stood there grinning at them. �Well well, look who�s cheating!� �Parker,� Michael bit out. This girl was as annoying to listen to as she was to kiss. �Hey loverboy,� Liz greeted. And Maria Deluca�s eyes narrowed. She may be upset and overly emotional at the moment, but she sure wasn�t slow. Liz Parker was acting way too much the cat who swallowed the canary for her taste. �You bitch,� she whispered. Liz�s horrified gaze flew to Maria. �Excuse me?� she choked out. �What did you call me?� �Bitch,� Maria repeated. �Just because your boyfriend couldn�t keep his tongue to himself, that doesn�t mean that you can insult me like that! I pushed him away, Maria, in case you�ve forgotten! Kyle can tell you that!� Slowly, the grin spread on Maria�s face. �Bitch,� she said again. She turned to Michael. �Thanks again.� TBC |
| Part 5 |
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