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| The next week was more of the same. They would drive during the day and then set up camp at night. Their luck seem to just get better and better. They had even stopped using the real money once Michael figured out he could change pretty much any liquid they had on hand to gasoline after Maria had forgotten to stop to fill up the car. Michael had to give a lot of credit to Maria for her planning abilities. She had stocked up on enough non perishable that they didn�t need to stop for supplies very often. Usually when they stopped it was because they were sick of eating pasta or rice with tuna or SPAM or whatever can meat they had and decided to treat themselves to a real meal. Over time the teens had become comfortable with each other and began to open up. Nighttime was when the opened up the most. Maybe it was the darkness of the tent or the tight confines of the sleeping bag but that was when they both seemed to be able to let the other in. Maria talked to him about her relationship with her mom, Liz and Alex. She told him about a little six you old girl who�s father walked out on her and her hippie mother who struggled to take care of her�. FADE IN �He just took off?� Michael asked while gently rubbing Maria�s back as she cried softly, her head pressed against his chest, right above his heart. �Yeah, their I was trying to run after him but couldn�t because I couldn�t get my stupid shoelaces tied. My dog Lady, was sitting next to me licking my face trying to make me feel better.� �I didn�t know you have a dog.� �Had, a Dalmatian. She was hit by a car a few weeks later.� Michael sighed. �That rough.� He said while place a light kiss on her forehead. �Yeah, but I still had my Mom. She may not be the most conventional but she does love me. You know what�s funny, I never really minded taking a back seat when she went off on one of her hippie crusades. You know like trying to save some Indian historical landmark or something. But I always hated when she chose some creep over me, especially since they always ended up hurting her.� Maria confessed. �Did it stop after Jake?� Michael asked. �You mean the parade of men barreling through our lives? Yeah for a while, but after six months or so it started up again. She just made sure I spent the night at Liz�s house when she was going to bring some guy home. I�m not a shrink, but I think my mom is one of those women who need a man in their life to make it seem worthwhile.� �Let me guess, you were enlightened to this thought through an article in �Cosmo�.� He said in a teasing tone. Maria chuckled at his mention of �Cosmo� remembering one of their first real conversations that they had had in front of the Evans. �Ha ha, very funny. Are you looking for an apology or something?� �Hey I did apologize for the bony ass comment. Hell I even said you could give Jennifer Lopez a run for her money in the butt department. So yes I think I deserve an apology� He countered. Maria couldn�t help but to laugh. That was something that really surprised her, how easily Michael could make her laugh. After he had let down his shield and let her in, she was please to find that Michael could be an incredible flirt who loved to tease her to no end. Sighing dramatically she finally conceded to him. �Fine, I take it back. You do not have a needle dick.� �Very well, I forgive you.� He said while snickering. Then Maria shocked the hell out of him when she added. �Actually the term �Hung like a horse� could be used to describe you.� �MARIA!� Michael shouted, secretly thankful the tent was so dark that she couldn�t see he was blushing. Maria giggled hysterically, while Michael began to tickle her� FADE OUT They talked a lot about the rape, she explained that only her mom and Liz knew about it and that she had never been brave enough to tell Alex. Maria had so much guilt about this. She felt guilty for keeping Alex in the dark about the rape. Alex had always been like the big brother she never had. He always tried to take care of her. She also felt bad about not telling him about what really happened that day at the Crashdown between Liz and Max�. Fade In �I�ll never forgive myself for keeping Alex in the dark about Jake and you guys. I should have told him the same as I told Liz. He was always like a big brother and tried to protect me and this is how I repaid him by keeping secrets.� She said while putting on another pair of socks in an attempt to keep warm. Michael looked up to her. He was already in their sleeping bag but Maria wasn�t showing any real signs of joining him. He hated when she would let her anger build during the day and consume her at night. He watched as she sat Indian style in the corner of the tent. She had been thinking about Alex all day. Earlier she had remembered that it was his birthday and they had had an argument when she wanted to stop and call him to talk to him and let him know that she was alright. �Maria, I know your upset but catching a cold sitting out there isn�t going to help any. Will you just come to bed.� He said in an attempt to reason with her. �I shouldn�t have listened to you. I should have called him. I hate this so much. I only have my Mom and Alex left and they don�t even know if I dead or alive.� �Maria we went over this. The feds probable have bugs on their phones. Your doing the right thing by not getting them involved.� �That�s what Liz said when we lied to Alex about you guys.� She said, snapping at him. Michael took a deep breath before he spoke again. He had to get it through to her that she had nothing to feel guilty about. �Your being a martyr. First off what good would it have done to tell Alex about Jake. He would just end up hating himself for not being able to protect you. Is that what you want, him beating himself up for letting you down. Second it wasn�t your decision on whether or Alex was told about us, it was ours me, Max and Isabel.� Michael argued and couldn�t contain the hurt in his voice when he said �And third, I guess I was stupid enough to think that we had each other.� Maria head shot up when Michael said that last comment. She hadn�t realized that she had hurt his feeling when she made that remark about her Mom and Alex. �Oh Michael, I�m sorry. I didn�t mean it like that. It�s just so hard, you know what I mean. Every once and awhile it just hits me that I�ll probable never see them again and it just hurts. It has nothing to do with you.� Maria said as she crawled over to their bed and sliding in next to him in the sleeping bag. He watched her for a few seconds before he reached over to the lantern and switched it off. Sighing he gently gathered her in his arms. �I know you didn�t mean it the way it sounded. I also know how hard this is for you. And I was honest I would admit that a part of me is jealous.� �I don�t understand.� �Well you do have your Mom and Alex, but I don�t have anyone else. The only two people that ever cared about me were murdered by the FBI.� �That�s not true Michael, Liz cared and I CARE.� Maria said as she placed a kiss on his cheek. Michael snuggled closer to Maria, nuzzling his nose into her hair and kissing her on her neck. �Promise me that we�ll stick together.� He said in a voice so tender Maria felt tears threatening to spill. �Always.� She vowed� FADE OUT TBC |
| Part 7 |
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