ForcedTogetherpart6

�You saw me. What do you mean you saw me.� Michael asked anxiously

�Just now, by the tree.� She said to the ground.

He felt himself stiffen with anger. �She spied on me!�

Before he could say anything she started to ramble. �I didn�t mean to catch you doing what you were doing. It�s just that you were gone so long and I got worried. I mean how long can it take you to pee. So I went out looking for you. I heard you moaning and I thought you were hurt, I almost died when I actually saw what was causing the moaning. I don�t kn�.�

Michael held his hand up to stop her from continuing. �Stop, ok just stop. I have a confession too. I saw you down at the brook last night washing up.� Michael sighed deeply and saw the fury replace the embarrassment in her eyes. �Look, why don�t we just call it even. We both have been embarrassed enough don�t you think?�

She didn�t answer him for a second. A huge part of her wanted to chew his head off for keeping it to himself that he had saw her without her clothes on, but she realized that she would be a hypocrite since she was planning to keep her voyeurism to herself if her blushing hadn�t given her away.

�Fair enough. Why don�t we finish eating and get out of here.� Maria said in defeat.

Michael didn�t say anything. He just quickly ate his breakfast and chugged a can of soda before he headed over to take down the tent. Maria finished her food and quickly gathered everything together and put the equipment in the trunk and everything else went in the back seat.

She stood by the car and watched as he placed their tent in the trunk. She started to get in on the passenger side but he told her to wait a minute and to step away from the car. She watched in awe as Michael put his hand on the hood of the car and her red Jetta was turned black. He then moved around and put his hand on the door to get into the back seat and watched as it changed from a door to just part of the car. Making it appear as a two door car instead of a four door.

�Wow, you really must be focused.� Maria said.

�Yeah I guess so.� Michael said as he walked to the back of the car and changed the license plate from New Mexico to Maryland and transposed several numbers.

When he was done and stood up he found himself a little dizzy, Maria was by his side in seconds. �Are you alright?� She questioned.

�Yeah, just not use to using my powers that much. I�ll be fine.� He said while letting Maria help him over to the car and sat down on the hood.

Maria noticed that he was sweating and that the color had drained from his face. She made sure he wasn�t going to fall off the hood and got into the car and retrieved a bottle of water and some napkins. She walked back to where he was sitting and had begun to pour the water over the napkins to make a compress for him.

�Here hold this to your forehead.� She said while climbing on to the hood to sit next to him. �Maybe I should drive for a while.� She suggested.

She was shocked when all he did was shake his head yes. She didn�t think he would give up driving the car at all. Managing a smile, she slipped off the hood of the car and held her hand out for him to take. She walked him over to the passenger side and got him settled before walking over to the drivers side.

Michael watched in awe as Maria reached into her jeans and pulled out a set of car keys. Quickly she slipped the key into the ignition and started the car.

�You had keys to the car all along. Why didn�t you give them to me yesterday instead of making me use my powers?�

Maria gave him a sideward glance. �I didn�t have my set. These are Liz�s set. I left mine on the table in the cabin. � She explained.

�Oh.� He said before he rested his head next to the window and fell asleep. Maria didn�t say anything and turned the radio on low. She drove for about six hours before Michael woke up.

�Hey, how are you feeling?� She asked.

�Better, I think most of my powers are restored. I guess changing all that money last night took more out of me than I thought. But I�m good now. If you want you can pull over and I�ll drive if your tired.� He offered.

�Thanks, actually I�m a little hungry. We�ve crossed over to Nebraska. What do you say we stop and get something to eat. Then we should hit a Wal-Mart or something to get our supplies.�

�Good idea. Why don�t you pull into the next place you see that doesn�t look to expensive and we�ll grab a bite. Hopefully we can find a store that carries everything we�re looking for.�

Twenty minutes later they were sitting across from each in other in a booth in a small truck stop dinner. On the way in Maria had bought a newspaper and was currently going through it.

�What�s with the paper?� Michael asked as he stuffed half a roll in his mouth.

Maria looked up to answer him and saw him chewing with his mouth opened. �EWWW, could you please close your mouth while you chew. That�s disgusting.� She snapped at him before answering his question. �I got the newspaper for two reasons. One to see if there was anything in there about the cabin and two it�s Sunday and there are a ton of store flyers in here.�

Michael just smirked at her and made sure she was watching as he shoved the rest of the roll in his mouth. �I doubt there will be anything in a Nebraska paper about the cabin.� He mumbled around the roll, spewing crumbs onto the table. �And just look for a flyer for a store that sells in bulk.�

She looked at him in disgust and bite her tongue before saying anything again about his table manners. �Why bother.� She thought to herself. �I found a flyer for a Big K, we should be able to buy the clothes and almost all the other supplies. We could probable buy most of the food too, well the non perishable ones at least.�

Michael shook his head in agreement. He started to say something else but their food arrived. Any thoughts about continuing the conversation fell by the waste side as both teenagers found themselves attacking their meals. It was the first real meal either had had in two days and both of them were even more hungry than they realized.

After the waitress had cleared the table and both had order desert did they begin discussing their list of what they would need.

�I thought about it and the Jetta isn�t going to be able to hold everything we need, maybe we should think about going to a used car lot and look for a bigger car. I have all the paperwork in the glove compartment.� Maria said before she took a sip of her chocolate/strawberry shake.

�No way. We don�t have the money.� Michael said as he started looking through the paper.

�Excuse me, but this is America here. We discuss and debate before a decision is made. Hello I do have some legitimate points to be made in this matter.� Maria shot back.

�This isn�t up for discussion. Look, we�ll get one of those things that attach to the top of the car, they can store a lot of stuff. The Evans had one and you wouldn�t believe what they got in it. Between that, the trunk and the back seat we will have to make do.�

Maria huffed to show she was still upset with him for just making the decision without consulting her, but she didn�t fight him because deep down she knew he was right. She decided not to talk to him anymore until they got on the road again and to concentrate on a more detailed the shopping list. God knows when they will get to a store again.
Michael looked up when the waitress brought over their deserts and gave him the check. She watched in disgust as he devoured his sundae. When he was done he took out is wallet and started to pull out one of the fifties he had made last night but she stopped him.

�Use the real money. We don�t want to use this stuff all over the place, just the places we have to. They may not figure it out right away, but eventually the Feds will realize we are using phony money and we don�t want to leave too big of a trail for them.� She reasoned.

Michael shook his head in agreement and pulled out the twenties and went and paid the cashier while Maria finished her banana cream pie. She met him by the cash register when she was done.

When he finished paying Maria turned to the young woman running the register. �Excuse me, but how far are we from Pottersville?�

�Oh, not far. Maybe forty-five minutes from here. Just take a left when you leave the parking lot and keep on going straight. It�s on this main highway.� She explained.

�That�s great. Thank you so much.� Maria said with a smile before she turned to Michael. �Isn�t that great sweetie, I told you we weren�t that far away.� She said as she ran her hand along Michael�s forearm.

He wasn�t sure why she was play acting in front of the girl, but figured he should go along with her. He wrapped he arm around her shoulder and brought her closer to his body before he answered her. �Alright honey, you were right. I thought that we had at least a few more hours of driving.�

Then before he could stop himself he brought his mouth down and kissed her. As shocked as he was that he got up the courage to do it he was just a shock to realize that she was kissing him back. Kissing him back rather eagerly too and if his hearing wasn�t playing tricks on him he thought he heard her moan softly into his mouth.

After they pulled apart Maria looked up at him, clearly startled by his display of affection. Also she was a little embarrassed that he probable could tell that she enjoyed the kiss. A picture from a few short hours ago came barreling through her head of Michael by the tree jerking off. She also couldn�t help but notice that she could feel herself getting wet from the memory.

Realizing the girl was watching she gave Michael the biggest smile she could manage before turning to the girl one last time to give her thanks again before she dragged him out to the car.

Michael hopped into the drivers side as Maria got in on the other side. He didn�t dare look at her, not knowing what she was going to say or do. He just held out his hand for the keys to the car. Without a word she dropped the keys into his hand and turned and looked out her window.

They drove in silence all the way to Pottersville. They found the store pretty quickly and headed inside. Without even speaking they split the list in two and Michael gave Maria some money. Two hours later they were back in the car with everything jammed inside.

They drove for a couple of more hours before Michael turned into a side road that lead to the woods. He drove for another thirty minutes before he found a suitable place to set up camp.

Without speaking they got out and set up camp. When they were finished the took all the bags out of the car and started separating everything they had bought. Michael took the storage trunk from off the top of the car so they could begin to putting things in it that they didn�t need right away.

Finally Michael couldn�t take the silence any longer and stopped and looked at his companion. �What is your problem?! I can�t believe I�m going to ask you this, I should just be thankful your not jabbering away over there at usual. But what�s with the silent treatment?�

Maria looked at him in complete shock, was he not with her at the diner. �You�ve got to be kidding!� She snapped. �You have no idea what I�m upset about! How about the fact that you kissed me back there without my permission!�

�What! You�re the one who started it! With that whole calling me �sweetie� and rubbing your hand on my arm! I was just following your lead there sweetheart!�
He shot back.

Maria looked up at him and said. �I just wanted to get directions to the town to find the store you big idiot! I figured that it would look more natural if we appeared to be a couple. As far as me rubbing your arm, that was because she was checking you out and I thought it would only make sense that I showed her you were taken. Well pretend taken that is.�

He couldn�t help looking at her with a look of utter confusion on his face. �Well didn�t my kissing you just confirm the fact that I was taken and not interested. Besides how the Hell was I suppose to know all this. I might be an alien, but I�m not a mind reader.�

She sighed in aggregation. �Forget it, you just don�t get it. Just keep your lips to yourself buster and we�ll be fine.�

Michael was about to throw it back in her face that she had kissed him back but decided not to at the last minute �she did buy some sharp knives back there, I don�t want to wake up tomorrow without my balls.�

�Fine, it�s starting to get dark out here. I�m going to go and get some more wood for the fire. Why don�t you finish going through this stuff and find something for supper.� He said as he stormed off.

�Hey I�m not June Cleaver you know!� She shouted after him before she got up and started going through the groceries they had gotten.

*************************************************

A few hours later after having dinner and both had taken rather cold baths in a nearby stream Maria found herself laying in the sleeping bag without Michael.

She keep thinking about the last few hours. Their dinner had been anything but pleasant and when they were taking turns bathing was probable the most awkward she had ever felt in her life.

Now it was Michael not speaking to her and he was sitting out by the fire brooding. She stayed in the tent for another half hour before she went out to confront him. When she stepped outside and saw that he was laying on the ground staring at the stars she felt her stomach doing flip-flops.

�God, he really is beautiful.� She couldn�t help thinking to herself when she noticed the way his face soften when his guard was down.

�Michael.� She heard herself saying his name in the softest of whispers.

�Yeah.�

�Are you coming in soon?�

�I don�t know.�

�You don�t know?�

�That�s what I said.�

Maria sighed, time for another tactic.

�You know, the tent isn�t that great and the sleeping bag isn�t really keeping me to warm. It was made for two people and its all drafty with just me in it.�

Maria almost did a little happy dance when he stood up and walked over to her.

�Fine, I�ll go in with you. Wouldn�t want the princess to catch a cold. I wouldn�t be able to live with myself.� He said as he walked over to the tent and went inside.

Maria felt herself getting angry again. �Princess, who the Hell is he calling a princess.� She screamed to herself as she stomped back over and went back inside.
�I am not a princess.� She shouted, while standing at the entrance to the tent.

�Yeah fine, what ever you say. Look you�re the one who was cold and demanded I come in and keep you warm, so just shut up and get your bony ass in the damn bag.� He shouted back.

�Demanded! Demanded! Oh my God you are delusional. I went out there because I felt sorry about earlier. I was trying to make peace with you, but your too damn stubborn.� She huffed. �And I DO NOT have a bony ass! I have a very nice ass.�

Michael had to swallow the laugh that was threatening to erupt. �Only Deluca would end her argument with a comment about having a nice ass.� When he sure he wouldn�t laugh he nodded his head to her. �Fine, just get in the sleeping bag and will call it a truce.�

�Fine.� She said as she walked over and got into the bag next to him.

*************************************************

It really was a tight squeeze and somehow they ended up with Maria on her back and Michael laying on his side with his arm bent at the elbow and resting his face on top of his hand. Both found themselves staring into the other�s eyes. Maria found her stomach was doing the flip flop thing again and could have sworn that her bedmates breathing was starting to sound a little shallow, almost like he was trying to get it under control.

She watched as Michael closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He held it for a few seconds before he released it and then he slowly opened his eyes to look at her again.

�I�m sorry.� He said quietly.

She couldn�t help but smile at him. �You want to narrow it down some. What exactly are you apologizing for.�

He shook his head a little. �She�s going to drive me insane� he thought to himself but decided to continue on with his apology anyway. �For kissing you back at the diner. You were right I shouldn�t have done it. I should have realized that forcing a kiss like that would bring up bad memories for you. For that I�m sorry. I feel like I cause you enough pain in that department already and kissing you probable just added to it.� He whispered to her.

He watched her face for a moment, waiting for her to say something back. Instead he saw her start to cry softly. He cursed himself for making it worse than before. He started to get ready to say something, anything to offer some sort of comfort when she stopped and gave him a weak smile.

�I don�t deserve that apology.� She said while wiping her eyes. When she saw he was getting ready to say something she shushed him, she had to explain things to him and couldn�t if he stopped her with his own comments.

�Just let me get this out, please. The other night when you asked me that question. You was right, it did hurt. To tell that story, to tell my story. However, I think it was a good thing in a way to get it out there. For five years I never talked about it. Only my Mom and Liz knew the whole story, and they basically made believe it didn�t happen from the time I told them. But you forced it out of me and in a way it was, I don�t really know how I can explain it, but it was like I finally buried the rape and Jake all at the same time. I�m not saying I�m over it or anything. But the other night I realized something, I�m stronger now. If that had happened two or three years ago I would still be sitting in the bathtub in a semi-comatose state.�

She stopped and took a deep breath before she continued. �It really dawned at me down by the lake that night. See I don�t know how to swim and I figured if I just walked out far enough and let the water consume me then I could stop the pain for good.�

She stopped when she heard his sharp intake of breath at the realization of what she was saying. � Instead while I was taking off my shoes and socks, I noticed how beautiful the lake looked with the full moon reflecting off of it and thought �how sad that I won�t ever see a full moon again�. That�s when I realized that if I did kill myself then Jake would win the finally round.�

She smiled when she saw a hint of his trademark smirk creeping across his face. �See, us Deluca�s aren�t quitters. Down at the lake I realized that. The past five years I have been acting as one in a way.�

She hesitated for a second before finishing her confession. �Do you know you�re the first boy I ever kissed. Hell I�ve been terrified to even think about kissing a boy. I mean how many sixteen year old girls do you know that are afraid to be kissed? The closes I came was when Iz dared Max to do it and that wasn�t exactly sexual, if you know what I mean. That�s why I was angry with you before, when you kissed me I wasn�t scared, I liked it.� And then quietly added �And I feel guilty about that.�

Michael cocked his head at her. �I don�t understand, why do you feel guilty?�

�Because what kind of friend am I. Less than 48 hours ago my best friend was killed and here I am enjoying being kissed by a boy and enjoying kissing a boy back for the first time in my life. It just seemed wrong. I know it really doesn�t make sense, but it�s how I feel. So don�t you see. I wasn�t angry with you, I was angry with myself. I just used you as the scapegoat. That�s why I don�t deserve that apology.� She said, then smiling added. �But I do deserve one for the princess and bony ass remarks.�

Michael looked deep into her eyes and saw what she was saying was the truth. A part of him even understood were she was coming from, because weather he admits it out loud or not she was his first kiss and he felt a little guilty too for enjoying it with everything that had happened to them and their friends. But another part, a huge part of him felt like crowing when he realized that she really did like kissing him.

Sighing, Michael stretched his arm out and rested his head next to hers. He couldn�t stop looking into her eyes. He watched her as she reached out her hand and stroked his arm. He felt tingles running down his spine when she ran her hand all the way down to his and gently mold her fingers around his own.

He found himself having a hard time breathing especially when Maria turned her body so that she was now on her side facing him. His heart started to beat faster as she scooted her body closer to his and leaned in slightly to rest her forehead lightly to his.

�Maria.� He moaned.

�Un hun.�

Michael shuttered when he heard how husky her voice sounded. His head was spinning with his need to kiss her, but this time he would ask first. �Is it still wrong for me to want to kiss you?�

Maria sighed as she felt Michael breath tickling her face. She could feel the adrenaline rushing through her body. She couldn�t help but to flash back to the sight of Michael masturbating earlier. She could feel her clit begin to throb in that familiar way and she had to fight the urges running through her to slip her hand into her pants to relieve the tension or more to the point, slipping Michael�s hand down there to take care of her needs.

She almost groaned when she heard herself saying. �I think so. What if these feeling we have are just because of what we are going through.�

Maria wanted to cry when she saw the look of distress cross Michael�s face. �God please let me be making the wrong decision.� She said to herself before speaking to him again. �I�m sorry, I�m not trying to tease you here. I swear to you, I just don�t know if I feel comfortable about were we seem to be heading.�

Michael was afraid to talk, but after a few seconds he finally found enough courage speak. �I know your not trying to tease me and I understand what your saying. What I�m not to sure about is what you feel is alright and what isn�t?�

She couldn�t help but to smile. �He doesn�t hate me!� she wanted to jump for joy at that realization. She thought about it for a moment before she answered his question.
�I like it when you hold me.� She whispered. �This morning when I woke up and you were holding me, it was the safest I ever felt. Michael I�m not saying that things aren�t going to happen between us because deep down I just don�t know. I just don�t want to jump into something that neither one of us is really ready for.�

He gave her a smile before he moved his head a little so that he could give her a kiss on her forehead. �So you liked waking up and having me holding you, huh.�

Maria sighed and rolled her eyes at him in mock frustration. �Oh please, don�t get all full of yourself mister. This tent is only big enough for two people, it won't be able to accommodate your ego too.�

Michael chuckled lightly as he layed back and wrapped his arms around Maria bringing her even closer. "Ok Princess, fair enough. Now be a good girl and go to sleep." He gently commanded her before brushing a kiss on the crown of her head.

Soon both were asleep and dreaming about the adventure that awaits them.

TBC