"What the heck?" those were the first words out of Liz's mouth as she walked down the stairs to find Maria dancing on the couch in the back of the Crashdown. Maria wasn't even scheduled to work today, and Liz had just gone upstairs to change after her shift finished.
She became even more astonished when Maria giggled wildly and tripped over her feet, falling off the couch. "Are you drunk Maria?" Liz asked, walking the rest of the way down the stairs to her best friend.
"You betcha," Maria grinned widely, stumbling to her feet.
"Okay, why?" Liz demanded, walking over to her.
Maria poked a finger in Liz'z chest, "I needed to drown some sorrows. I figure I've drank enough to kill those suckers good."
"Obviously," Liz said, backing away from the smell on Maria's breath. "Where did you get enough alcohol to get this drunk?"
Maria sighed, "It's not hard to convince people you're old enough, especially if they're men."
"So why did you come here?" Liz asked, "People don't usually come to work when they drink too much."
"I came to cry on the shoulder of my best buddy," Maria said in a sober voice, putting her hand on Liz's shoulder. "I feel so sad."
"I thought you drank your sorrows away?" Liz said sarcastically, getting Maria to sit down on the couch.
Maria shook her head, "No, I tried, I really tried, but I still hurt. I hurt so bad. I don't like being all alone again. It hurts right here." she tried to point to her chest over her heart, but ended up stabbing herself in the eye again.
"Michael?" Liz took a good guess.
Maria nodded, near tears, "Uh huh. I love him you know. Apparently, he loves me too. But, we can't be together. That never really bothered me before when it was my choice, but now I can't stand not having him around. Annoying as the little bastard can be."
"Just let him go Maria," Liz advised. "He's Czechoslovakian, you're human, it's not a good mix. He's got a destiny, and a mate. It'll just hurt worse if he chooses her over you."
"But he loves me," Maria insisted stubbornly.
"I love Max, and he loves me, and we know not to be together," Liz reminded her.
Maria all but ignored her. "We were meant for each other."
"No, he was 'meant' for Isabel," Liz said, "Just like Max was meant for Tess."
"We were destined to be together," Maria insisted.
"Maria..." Liz began.
"We were. I love him and he loves me."
"You......" Liz tried again.
"He belongs with me!"
Liz leaned back against the couch, not trying to reason with the drunk Maria anymore. This was going to be a long night.
**************
"Liz?" Michael said in surprise as he opened the door to reveal Liz. Leaning on her arm, holding a flask was Maria.
"What's going on?" He asked again, as Maria stumbled and fell more heavily on Liz.
"What are we doing here?" Maria demanded in a slurred voice. Liz had let her start drinking again, hoping against all hope that she would drink herself into oblivion, however it hadn't worked.
"For the past hour," Liz said through gritted teeth. "You have been trying to convince me that you and Michael are in love and destined for each other. To shut you up, I brought you to him."
"I don't think this is a good idea...." Michael began to object, but was cut off when Liz tossed the barely erect Maria into his arms.
"She's your problem now," Liz said with a sarcastic smile, stalking off down the hall waving goodbye.
"Wait!" Michael called after her, but it was too late, she was already gone. He finally looked down and Maria who was leaning against him and smiling like and idiot.
"Hey handsome," she slurred, trying to reach up and stroke his face, but couldn't lift it that high.
"What are you doing being drunk?" Michael demanded, pulling her inside the apartment, "This isn't like you Maria."
"This is exactly like me," Maria said indignantly, trying to stand up straight. "Except I've never been drunk before, but I've never been in love before either. But, since love doesn't seem to mean shit, I figured what the hell, might as well try and numb the pain."
"I don't think...." those were the only words Michael got out before Maria collapsed unconscious in his arms. He struggled under her weight, but managed to stay upright.
He glanced over at the lone bedroom and sighed. Michael hoped he wouldn't drop her on the way there.
TBC..........
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