"You're what!" Liz exclaimed, following Maria into the
back room at the Crashdown.
Maria shrugged, "It's quite simple, I'm going on a
date. People do thing like that you know."
Liz shook her head, "I know. But, I mean you never
really dated before, and now this whole stuff with
Michael..."
Maria went into the bathroom to change into street
clothes, she called back to Liz, "What stuff with
Michael? He wants to be alone, I'll oblige. Besides,
I need to get on with my life, in fact this may allow
me to have a life."
When she came out in jeans and a t-shirt, Liz ahd
simply pulled a sweater over her uniform, "Besides,
Josh Gordon is a nice guy. It may be nice to be
involved in a relationship that has a chance to go
somewhere."
Liz shook her head, "I agree, Josh is a nice guy, but
that's just it. He's too nice. Maria, you're not
exactly a....meek....person. He will cower before you
for crying out loud."
That might be a nie change Maria thought
silently. Then she said, "Liz, give it up. Josh is
not like that. He's smart, he's handsome, he's human
for God's sake!"
He's not Michael a little voice in her head
said.
"If you really want to go out with him," Liz was
saying, "I say go for it. But make sure. Josh
doesn't deserve to be hurt."
Maria nodded, "I know. But I do want to go out with
him. I had my eye on him before Michael came into the
picture."
********************************
Liz glanced at her watch. 8:42. She was supposed to
be meeting Michael, Max and Isabel here 12 minutes
ago. Maria was supposed to come, but she was going out
on a date with Josh instead. They were going to
attempt to do something 'normal' as a group, go to a
movie. But, right now she was standing in front of
the ciniplex and they were nowhere to be found.
All of a sudden, the jeep pulled up with the 3 of them
in it. Max parked it along the street and they all
jumped out.
"What took you guys so long?" Liz asked Max as Isabel
put change into the parking meter. Michael just stood
by looking bored.
Max shrugged, "Honestly, it took me awhile to drag
Isabel along."
"What about Michael?" Liz asked, glancing at the
sullen figure.
Max shook his head, "He was eager to come. Actually
got over to our place early. I really don't know
what's come over him. Even though he agreed, I had
expected him to come up with some sort of excuse for
not attending."
As Isabel walked up, Michael asked, "Where's
Maria?"
Liz cleared her throat, "Ah, she's not coming."
"Why not?" Isabel demanded, "I came."
"She had a date," Liz mumbled, averting her eyes from
Michael's.
He didn't say anything, and since Liz wasn't looking
at him, she didn't see the flash of hurt that came
across his eyes. It was gone in an instant, and he
said, "Well, what movie are we going to see?"
*************************
The whole evening, Michael couldn't concentrate on the
movie. Not that there was much to concentrate on.
His mind kept wandering to Maria.
He told himself that he didn't care that she was going
out on a date. In fact, why should he? He didn't
care about Maria at all. She was just a good kisser.
He had broken it off. She meant nothing, he kept
repeating to himself as he viciously shoved a handful
of popcorn into his mouth.
He glanced to Max and his right. Liz was on his
right. He was distracted for a moment observing his
friend. It was comical the way Max kept coing close
to put his arm around Liz, then refraining. Michael
shook his head. Those two wouldn't be able to keep
apart for long.
Unlike you and Maria the thought came unbidden.
Michael told himself to shut up and went back to
trying to watch the events on the screen.
*******************************
Across town, Maria sat in one of the nicest
restaurants in town across from Josh Gordon. Captain
of the basketball team and on the honor roll, he was
one of the most sought after guys in Roswell High.
Handsome, tall and courteous, he was every girl's
dream date. He was even a little shy which most took
as cute. To top it all, his family was even fairly
well off. He was the perfect guy.
And Maria was having a lousy time.
She smiled as she tried to concentrate on what Josh
was telling. But her thoughts kept drifting. She
just didn't feel any chemistry with him. There was no
spark, no passion.
He was what she thought all her life she wanted, and
she felt nothing. He even nearly fit into the mold of
the dream guy she ahd envisioined for herself. Now,
when she thought of the perfect man for her, she came
up with a differnt image.
A guy that wasn't drop dead gorgeous in anyone's eyes
but hers. A guy who couldn't care less if he missed
class. A guy who could quote Ulysses. Someone who
she was incredibly attracted to. Michael.
Maria nearly cursed out loud. She shouldn't be
thinking of Michael, she should be thinking of
Josh.
She went back and tried to concentrate on the
conversation they were supposedly having.
"......and Mr. Faraday said that if Guerin didn't show
up tomorrow, he would be officially dropped from the
class."
"Pardon me?" Maria asked, tuning back in quickly when
she heard Michael's last name.
"Oh, I was just talking about chemistry class today,"
Josh said, flashing a beautiful smile. "Michael
Guerin, you know him right? Well, he didn't show up
for about the 10th time. Mr. Faraday is going to drop
him from the class if he doesn't show up
tomorrow."
"Does Michael know this?" Maria asked him carefully,
taking a sip of water.
Josh shrugged, "I doubt it. This was in fifth and he
wasn't there. His friends Max and Isabel aren't in
the class, so I don't know who would tell him."
Maria decided she would have to inform Michael he ahd
to go to calss tomorrow. As much as she wanted to
avoid him, nobody in his class would tell him. He
didn't exactly form a lot of friendships.
"So Josh," Maria said, forcing a smile, "How is your
basketball season going."
"Oh, it's allright. We have a good team this year.
But you don't need to hear about basketball," he said
smoothly as their meals came.
He's perfect, Maria thought miserbaly. This guy
doesn't even want to brag about himself, and I can't
even work up a mild attraction.
****************************************
Michael stared in the window of the restaurant. After
wheedling the name of the place Maria was going out of
Liz, he told Max and Isabel he could walk home from
the movie theater.
He repeatedly asked himself what the hell he was doing
there as he spotted Maria and Josh at a table not to
far from where he was standing..
Josh Gordon, Michael's mouth narrowed. Of all the
people, she had to go out with Josh Gordon. Michael
couldn't even come up with a reasonable excuse to hate
him, except that he was so damn perfect.
He could even afford to take Maria to one of the
nicest restaurants sin town. Half the time Michael
couldn't even afford McDonalds.
Michael watched as Maria laughed at something that
Josh said. Michael assumed it was probably something
witty and intelligent, as was Josh's nature.
He shook his head in disgust and walked away. She had
moved on to bigger and better things than a alien in
poverty.
**********************************
Maria walked up to her front door, escorted gallantly
by Josh.
"Thanks for a wonderful evening," she told Josh
kindly. In truth, it had been a nice night.
"No Maria, thank you," Josh said sweetly, "I haven't
been out on a date for a long time."
"Come on," Maria chided gently, "You probably have
girls hanging all over you."
Josh shrugged, "Yeah, I guess, but I don't want to go
out with a lot of them. I've wanted to ask you out
for awhile Maria, but never got the courage. You
always seemed so.....I don't know.
Independant."
Maria willed herself to be attracted to him. She
wanted more than anyhting for him to be 'the one'.
She eve squeezed her eyes shut momentarily and
concentrated, but it didn't work.
"Josh," she said hesitantly, "I like you. You are a
really nice guy, but...."
"But you're not attracted to me," he filled in the
sentence for her.
"How did you know?" she asked, surprised.
He shrugged sadly, "All night you've been on another
planet."
"I'm sorry," Maria said emphatically, "I shouldn't
have said that I'd go out with you."
Josh shook his head, "NO, you made my day saying yes.
At least now I know that there won't be anyhting
between us instead of always wondering."
"I'm really sorry," Maria said sadly, "You're a really
great guy and you deserve the best."
"I thought that I had gotten it," Josh said
mournfully, touching her cheek.
"Goodnight Josh," she said gently and kissed him
gently on the mouth. It was a quick kiss. I almost
felt like kissing a relative. She waved goodbye and
let herself into the house.
Michael stood a ways away, watching their goodbye.
His chest felt an unfamiliar tightening as he watched
Maria kiss Josh.
He turned to go home, knowing if Maria caught him
watching her she would probably have him arrested or
something. However, he couldn't resist kicking one of
her neighbours garbage cans on his way.
*****************
Maria walked into the house. Her mom was still at
work so she was home alone. She kicked off her shoes
and went into the kitchen. SHe picked up the phone to
call Liz.
"Hello?" Liz answered the phone on the second
ring.
"It's Maria," she said quickly, pouring herself a
glass of water.
"Hey Maria," Liz siad cheerfully, "How did the date
go?"
Maria groaned, "Well, in a sense it was awful. I
couldn't even dredge upa bit of feeling for him. It
was like going out with my brother."
"Thaat bad?" Liz said sympathetically.
Morai nodded, "yeah. We were wrong. Michael does seem
to have spoiled me for other guys.
Unfortunately."
There was noise in the background at the Parker's.
Liz said, "Listen Maria, I'm sorry, but I've got to
go. My mom needs the phone."
"Okay, g'night," Maria said.
"Night," Liz said, and hung up.
Maria hung up her phone and sighed. She had to
remember to talk to Michael in the morning.
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