Friday Night Poker (continued)
Email Dizzy: ( [email protected] )
***
Maria felt very out of place in
Grizolli, the restaurant Michael had pulled up
in front of. A huge golden Italian fountain spouted champagne, beautiful marble
floors, a gold leaf ceiling and shiny cherry oak tables proclaimed the
prominence of the restaurant. It was reservation only, and only the most
important people could even think of trying for one.
"Kaufman, party of 4," Michael said. "They should be expecting us?"
"Michael Guerin?" the man looked at her. "Mr. Kaufman didn't mention your bring
a *friend *," the man looked at her with distaste.
"I'm sure it will be okay," Michael glared at him, teeth clenched.
The man collected himself. "This way, sir," he said, leading them across the
elegant restaurant to a small table set in the corner.
It was hard not to instantly like Mr. Kaufman. The white bearded pudgy man
reminded you of Santa Claus, with his rosy cheeks and infectious laugh. Maria
liked him the moment she set eyes on him.
The woman beside Mr. Kaufman, however, left Maria with a sick feeling in her
stomach. She was supermodel gorgeous, blonde and blue eyed with curves
everywhere. She greeted Michael with a predatory smile and held out a perfectly
manicured hand.
He kissed it, smiling at her. "Stacy," he said, almost purring. "Always a
pleasure."
"I'll bet," Maria muttered.
Michael looked at her. "Did you say something?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Mr. Kaufman, Stacy, let me introduce you to Maria DeLuca."
Maria smiled at the man, shaking his hand, and did the same for Stacy, who sized
her up.
"She's smaller then the last one Michael," Stacy said. "Like a fairy." She gave
Maria a cold smile. "How cute."
Maria glared back at her, resisting the urge to rip her hair out by the roots.
Maria DeLuca was not *cute* . Michael pulled a chair out for Stacy and then did the same for Maria.
"I took the liberty of ordering," Mr. Kaufman said.
Michael nodded. "Let's get down to business," he said.
Maria sat there, looking at the tablecloth, catching snatches of official
sounding conversation. She could feel Stacy's eyes on her, but didn't look up
until a plate of delicious looking food was set in front of her. She wasn't sure
what it was but it looked and smelled wonderful.
Michael and Mr. Kaufman were arguing about something, she wasn't sure what, but
it had something to do with whatever Michael was trying to sell him. "I
understand your position Michael, I really do," Mr. Kaufman was saying. "But
your company just seems...cold, not the ideal company for a family business."
This coming from the guy who had Ice Queen herself as his date.
"But when you look at the figures--" Michael tried again.
"Enough business talk," Mr. Kaufman ordered. "Eat."
Michael sighed and nodded, grabbing his fork.
Maria followed his example, taking a bite out of the food, which was just as
wonderful as it looked, nice and rich.
"So, Maria," Stacy said her name with scorn, raising an eyebrow at her. "How do
you know Michael?"
"Well I go to school with him," she said.
"Oh really? So that would make you what? 16?" Stacy asked, making her feel every
bit as young as she was.
"17 next month."
"How cute! Mickey, I thought you only liked older women," Stacy turned her
attention to Michael, pointing her cleavage in his direction.
Michael shot her a warning glare.
"So what do you do?" Maria asked, changing the subject.
"She shops," Mr. Kaufman said.
"You mean she's a buyer?" Maria asked, confused.
"No." he laughed again. "She just uses up my credit cards."
Stacy slapped his arm, laughing coyly. "Daddy stop it."
Daddy? This was an interesting new development.
"Actually, Stacy isn't much older than you, Maria," Michael said. "She's a
freshman at UCLA."
Maria raised an eyebrow. "Funny. She looks so much OLDER."
Stacy glared at her. Maria smiled innocently back, taking a bite of her food.
Stacy, however, was doing nothing more than chopping her food into smaller and
smaller pieces and pushing it around her plate.
"How do you eat so much and stay so skinny?" Stacy asked, looking genuinely
interested.
"High metabolism," Maria said, taking another bite of the rich food just to
spite.
Michael put down his napkin and stood up. "Maria," he said. "May I have this
dance?"
She looked at his hand a minute, surprised. "Sure," she took it, standing up.
"If you'll excuse us." She gave a triumphant smile to Stacy, who sneered at her,
and followed Michael onto the marble dance floor.
"Are you enjoying herself?" he wrapped an arm around her waist, entwining her
fingers with his.
"Oh yeah, immensely," she rolled her eyes.
"I take it you don't like Stacy?" he smiled; all the while they swayed gently to
the music.
"She's snobby," Maria concluded.
"I thought you didn't think people were snobby, you just thought they were shy
and reserved," he said.
She blinked at him in surprise. He actually remembered? "
"There is nothing 'shy or reserved' about that woman," Maria said.
Michael laughed."I see what you mean," he looked over at Stacey, who was eyeing
them with distaste. He pulled Maria closer. She didn't seem to mind, so he took that as a good sign.
"You're good friends with her?" Maria asked.
He ran his fingers up and down the small of her back as they danced. "No,"
Michael said, resting his chin on
her head. "I've only met her twice. Disliked
her twice." Maria smiled. They continued to dance, until the song ended. Michael leaned down, lightly
brushing his lips on hers before he pulled away, leading her back to the table.
"I'm convinced," Mr. Kaufman said the minute they got back to the table.
"Excuse me?" Michael pulled her chair out for her.
"The deal. I'm convinced, any company whose leading man is as sincere as that--"
he motioned to the dance floor, "--has to be caring enough for a family company.
I'll sign."
Michael's eyes opened wide. "Really, sir? I'll have Ms. Bancroft pull up the
contracts and have them sent right over." They shook hands.
"If you'll excuse us," Mr. Kaufman said, standing up.
Michael nodded.
"Bye, Mickey," Stacy pulled a piece of paper out from said cleavage and pressed
it into Michael's hand. "Until next time." She gave Maria a cursory glare before
taking her father's arm and sauntering out.
Michael slid her chair back. "Shall we go?"
The minute they were outside the confines of the restaurant he picked her up by
her waist, spinning her around. She laughed, surprised.
"I knew it!" he kissed her hard on her mouth. "I knew you'd help me."
"What did I do?" she put her hands to her lips. "I just sat there."
"You're cute, you have that nature, makes people want to buy things," he kissed
her cheek. "Thank you."
"I didn't DO anything," she laughed, still a little dazed from the kiss.
"It's late," Michael said. "I better get you home before your mom starts to
worry."
"She's not here," Maria said. "She's at a Sci-Fi convention."
"Come on," he smiled, deciding to ignore that last little
tid-bit. Too much
temptation.
He draped his arm across her shoulders, and when she didn't shrug it off, he
decided to take advantage of the liberty more often.
***
"I'll see you tomorrow," Michael said, walking her to her door.
"Yeah," she said and looked at him. "I actually had fun tonight. Surprising,
huh?"
"Yeah, surprising," Michael smiled. "So did I." He leaned down a little bit.
"Surprising," he whispered, his breath hot on her cheek.
Her eyes fell closed, and she felt the light brush of his lips on her skin, but
nothing else. Her eyes snapped open, he was gone. Walking down the street, hands shoved in his
pockets in that annoying way of his, walking away natural as anything.
***
"We're going shopping."
Maria looked at him, confused. "Shopping?" She leaned back in her seat.
"Shopping for what?"
"Clothes," he said, shooting her a sideways grin as he maneuvered the car
through traffic.
"Really?" Maria sat up, clapping her hands, excited. "Can I pick you out some
clothes? I know the perfect store for you, it's in the mall and they sell the
coolest--" She rambled on and on about clothes: what styles would be perfect,
and how they should check to see if they fit.
He listened, not really paying as much attention to her words as he was her
voice. Light and lilting, filling the dreary sports car with joy, something it
had never experienced. It was a heady feeling being with this girl, to get a
little of the energy she radiated. He had never been around anyone with her
spirit.
"We're here," he said at last, breaking into her ramblings.
"Actually," he said. "I wasn't shopping for me."
She looked at him, confused.
"Then whom were you shopping for?" she asked.
He looked at her, long and hard, holding her gaze. "You."
She blinked, and he looked towards the mall. "Better get shopping before the
crowds arrive," he said.
She continued
to stare at him. "For me? What do I need?"
He shrugged.
"I have something to ask you," he said. "But not now."
A light of hope rose in her chest, restricting her throat. He motioned for her
to follow. "Come on."
She nodded, complying.
"So,"
Michael said. "Where do you want to go first?"
Maria grabbed
his arm. "You're not buying anything for me," Maria said sternly.
He laughed.
"I'll buy you something whether you're here or not. At least if
you're here I can get the right size," he said, reaching out and touching
the
fabric of her shirt, his finger lightly brushing the skin of her arm.
"The right
color," his hand moved up, brushing her neck.
"Style."
He brushed her cheek, tucking a stray lock of short blonde hair behind
her ear. She was frozen to the spot, holding her breath, staring at him
with wide hazel
eyes.
"Only a
few outfits," Michael said. "Then we'll go shopping for me."
Maria continued to stare at him.
"What's
wrong, Motor mouth? Cat got your tongue?"
She growled,
grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the mall. "You want to
buy me something, Space Boy? Then, by god, you are going to buy me
something."
***
"You like
it?" She turned, modeling the simple black dress. It was a halter
dress, stopping mid thigh and exposing a lot of leg. He nodded vigorously,
eyes wide and dark. She could almost see the drool forming at the corner of
his mouth.
She smiled
triumphantly and pouted. "I need shoes."
He nodded,
turning to the sales clerk "We'll take it," he held out a credit
card.
Maria grinned, knowing she had him. Never underestimate the power of a sexy
dress and a man with a credit card. She skipped off to the dressing room.
This slave thing wasn't so bad. She got to
model gorgeous outfits for an equally gorgeous guy. She had taken his hand at
the start and he hadn't dropped it since, only to let her change.
She looked at
herself in the mirror. Could he really have feelings for her? It
certainly appeared that way...kissing her, touching her, holding her hand. Like
they were dating or something.
It was weird,
less then a week ago he had been tugging on her hair and calling
her Motor mouth Maria and Ditzy DeLuca, making fun of her every chance he got.
He still called her those names, of course, but now it was...affectionate, like
a pet name.
She smiled at
her reflection, admiring the dress. The dress Michael was buying
her. The dress he SHOULDN'T be buying her. That too confused her, Michael
dressed in those cheap Goodwill looking clothes at school, but at home he was a
totally different person. Well-dressed, sweet, with good manners, a wallet full
of credit cards and a car to kill. She reached down, grabbing her shirt,
smiling at the mere thought of her
"master."
***
"I am NOT
getting matching outfits." Michael shook his head emphatically,
glaring at the salesclerk.
Maria pouted,
sticking out those intoxicating lips of hers. "But Michaeeell,"
she whined softly. "It would be so cute!!!"
He eyed her.
"I don't want to be 'cute'."
"Sure you
do," Maria began to play with his hand, tracing her initials into his
palm with his fingers.
The walls were
slowly crumbling, with each stroke of her finger he felt himself
give a little. "NO," he said, more to reassure himself that he was
still in
control than to deny her.
"Please?"
Maria begged. "Just one."
She pointed to
a khaki skirt and plaid 3/4 sleeve shirt, and the matching outfit
beside it made for males, khaki pants, and a long sleeved plaid shirt of the
same colors.
"No
way," Michael said. "You are not going to dress me up like Yuppie
Ken."
Maria tugged on his arm. "Michael!" she trailed her finger down his
shirt, again
leading him to distraction. The muscles bunched, tensing under her touch.
"Please?"
She looked up at him, hazel eyes locking with brown like a small child
pleading for a toy.
He sighed,
defeated. "We'll take it."
"Can we
wear them now?" she asked.
"NO,"
Michael said. "I'm drawing the line."
"If you
wear the outfit I'll..." she thought a second. "Do something."
"Do
what?" he whispered.
"What do
you want me to do?" she said.
"I,"
he said. "I want you to go out with me."
She blinked.
"Where?" Maria said.
"With me.
On a…" he coughed. "Date."
She choked.
"A date?"
He nodded.
"We'll wear the outfits," he said.
"A
date," she repeated.
He nodded.
"You don't have to say yes," Michael said. "This is strictly
between
us, forget the game for a second."
"Between
us..."
"I can
wait," Michael said. "I'm not in a hurry."
"Yes."
Maria said.
Michael
blinked, unbelieving. "Yes?" he choked in disbelief. "Did
you…you just
said."
She smiled.
"Yes."
"WOOHOO!!"
he picked her up, spinning her around.
She squealed, laughing, enjoying the feel of his hands on her waist, making her
feel totally free. He leaned down, capturing his lips on hers in a hard,
bruising, but sweet kiss that left her breathless.
"Do you
have ANY idea how long I've been waiting to ask that?" He practically
shouted, grinning at her.
"How
long?" Maria laughed.
"Too
long," Michael said. He grabbed the bag. "Years."
Maria looked at him.
"Why
didn't you tell me?" she asked softly.
He looked at
her. "Not even I know that one, kiddo," he said, giving her a chuck
under her chin.
They stood like
that for a moment, just grinning at each other. "Can I do
something…for…you?" the woman looked at the couple, momentarily
confused.
Michael looked
at her. "No, we we're just leaving," he grabbed Maria's hand
again.
"Enough
shopping," he said. "It's time to have some real fun."
***
The scream tore
from her mouth like something primal, mixed with laughter as the
tears ran down her face.
"Put your
arms up!" Michael shouted over the roar, his own arms pointed towards
the sky.
It rose again,
up up, and then it plummeted back down, getting another scream
out of her. Her arms shot up and then grabbed hard onto him as it rounded the
corner, looping around a corkscrew, turning her end on end. They went down one
more hill, slowing down to a crawl, and pulling into the coaster's station.
Michael laughed, pulling her to her feet and out of the roller coaster. She fell
into him, a little dizzy.
"Whoa,"
he grinned. "I see you are not roller coaster savvy."
She clutched at him, desperately trying to fight gravity. Gravity won. She sank
down to her knees, woozy, and Michael came down with her, though willingly.
"It's all
right," Michael said. "Just stay here for a second."
Maria
swallowed, pressing her head against his chest and breathing in the sweet
smell of cologne and sweat that was Michael Guerin.
"I've
never been on one of those," Maria said, trying to stand up.
Michael helped
her, standing her up and brushing her off. "Never?" Michael said.
"Blasphemy."
She giggled,
still a little disoriented. "I never wanted to go," Maria said.
"Too
scary."
"Scary? A
roller coaster?" Michael shook his head. "You're just a wuss."
Maria tried to
look indignant. "I am NOT a wuss!" she said, playfully hitting
him in the arm. "I am simply cautious."
"Wuss."
She went to hit him again but he dodged it, backing up a step and almost
crashing into an older woman carrying a handbag. Maria giggled and went after
him again, trying to slap him. He dodged again.
"Hold
still you little--" she lunged, and he ducked out of his way.
"Have to catch me first!" he yelled, sprinting off in the other
direction.
Maria shrieked in rage, chasing after him. They ducked through ride lines and
pushed through food crowds, winding their way around the amusement park, until
she lost him.
"Michael?"
she called, slowing to a stop. "Michael?"
She looked around. It was virtually deserted in this part of the park.
"Michael
this isn't funny." She whirled. "Michael!"
He grabbed her
by her waist, pulling her against him. "You rang?" he whispered,
breath hot against her ear.
She squirmed.
"You jerk!" she laughed, hitting his arm. "You scared me half to
death," she said. "I can't find my way out of this place alone."
"I'm glad
your worry over my personal concern totally overshadows your worry for
finding your way out of this place," Michael rolled his eyes.
"I'm
sorry, but I like my house better than you," she stuck her tongue out.
He eyed her.
"I see how it is," he said dramatically, feigning hurt. "I can
take
it." He swallowed, pretending to wipe away a tear.
She laughed.
"Come on, you big loser," she grabbed his shirt.
"Where are
you taking me?" he yelled. "Help! This woman is not my mommy!" he
yelled.
Maria laughed.
"You still didn't tell me when our date is," Maria said.
"Friday,"
Michael said. "I'm going to take you to the carnival."
She looked at
him. "I've never been to one of them," Maria said.
"Then this
will be quite an experience," he smirked.
"Yeah,"
she said solemnly, looking at him. "It will."
He kissed her
cheek. "Come on," he said. "Let me get you home."
***
"I'll see
you tomorrow?" he looked at her, studying her face in the fading
daylight.
"Hospital,
remember?" Maria said.
"Oh,"
Michael said, disappointed. "I forgot."
"You
could…come visit me," Maria suggested, hoisting the bags up.
He smiled.
"I think I might just do that." He kissed her cheek once more, giving
her hand a squeeze. "Until tomorrow, Ditzy," he whispered, backing
away from
her, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Don't
call me Ditzy!"
***
"Hey
girl," Margie smiled at her when she entered; the large black woman took up
half the front desk, her white uniform stretched taut over cocoa skin. She
grinned at
Maria. "You're looking mighty happy."
Maria grinned
back. "Well I am," Maria adjusted her candy striper outfit.
"And why
is that, shuga?" Margie asked. "Got yourself a man?"
Maria blushed.
"Well,
it's about damn time."
Maria laughed.
"So what's
your fella's name?"
"His name
is Michael and he's...he's not my fella," Maria blushed a deeper shade
of red.
"Lookit
you," Margie laughed.
"You're
redder than than my apple here." She held up an apple. "Them children
are in there to see ya."
Maria nodded.
"But you're going to give me all the juicy details, honey."
Maria laughed and nodded, going towards the playroom.
***
"MARIA!!"
the voices chorused, rushing up to greet her, a thousand little hands
grasping onto the short skirt of her uniform.
"Maria!
Maria!" They hopped up and down, grubby hands clutching at her, and
grabbing a hold of her legs.
"Hey!"
she kneeled, letting them get a good grip on her, grabbing the new
nearest ones and hoisting them up.
"Ria!!"
a little girl with brown pigtails and yellow ribbons wrapped her arms
around her neck from the left, and a little boy, Timmy, wrapped his arms around
her neck from the right.
"We missed
you THIS much," he spread his arms wide, almost breaking his little
back.
"That
much, huh?" she laughed, putting them both down.
He watched her from the safety of the door, cracking it just barely.
"I made
you sumthing," Wendy said, rushing to a table, and grabbing a piece of
yellow construction paper from the arts and crafts table. She ran back over.
"It's a
rabbit. He has a carrot."
"He's
gorgeous," Maria said, looking at the white ball of fluff. "I'll hang
him
on The Board, okay?"
The girl nodded, eyes wide as Maria grabbed a dormant tack and carefully tacked
up the picture.
'Thank you,
Wendy!"
"I got you
something too!!" Tommy yelled, angry that his fire had been stolen.
He kicked at Wendy and she kicked back, not about to give in to a boy. He kicked
her again and then she tackled him.
"Guys!"
Maria said, laughing, grabbing one kid and then the other, holding them
away from each other. "Calm down."
They did,
obeying whatever she said. "You said you got me something?"
He happily
skipped to the table, betraying a plastic rose. "Tommy!!" Maria
admonished. "Did you steal this from Mrs. Runic?"
Tommy blushed.
"She was sleeping," Tommy said.
Maria sighed.
"It's been
my experience, that girls like it better if you give them real
flowers."
Maria gasped,
whirling around. Thirty tiny eyes were on him. He brought the
roses out from behind his back, bestowing them to her.
Maria gasped,
her hand flying to her mouth. "Michael," she whispered.
Instantly the questions started in. "Are you Maria's boyfriend?"
thirty little
voices asked.
"That's up
to Maria," he looked at them, smiling.
"No,"
Maria said, not ready to admit it, not even to herself. "He's not."
He looked up,
meeting her eyes. "He'd like to be," he said softly.
The children
looked at her, gauging her reactions. She didn't have one, she was
too shocked to have a facial expression. He pressed the roses into her hands and
there they stayed.
"Well,"
Maria said finally, after a long, pregnant pause. "I have to do my
rounds."
Michael nodded.
She looked
around the room. "You'll behave while I'm gone, right?"
"RIGHT!"
they yelled.
She laughed.
"Okay," she opened the door.
Michael
following her out, studying her. "What are your rounds?" he asked
after
a long silence.
"I go
around visiting the other children," Maria said, playing with the roses in
her hand. "The ones who can't leave their beds."
"Girl!!!"
Margie tromped down the hall, eyes on Michael. "Is that your stud
muffin? He's yummy."
Margie had no scruples, that much was obvious.
Michael smiled.
"Good morning," he lifted Margie's hand, kissing the top.
"What a
charmer this boy is," Margie said. "This the young man got you all in
a
fluster?"
Michael looked
at her. "Oh really?"
"No,"
Maria said. "That's Keanu Reeves. See you, Margie." She brushed past
Margie, going towards a room.
"If you'll
excuse me, lovely," Michael said, following Maria.
"Whoo,"
Margie fanned herself. "Boy gives me heatstroke just looking at him."
***
"This is
Willy," Maria said.
The boy was adorable, about 12, sitting prominently in his wheel chair, staring
at Michael when he entered.
"Catch,"
Willy said instantly, tossing a ball at him.
Michael reacted with pure instinct, catching the ball in his hand.
"Good
arm," Michael said, shaking off the sting.
"Willy,
this is Michael," Maria said.
"How are
you doing today?"
Willy shrugged.
"Not complaining," he said. "Mom got a new cable channel on the
TV for me, ESPN 2," he said.
"Wow,"
Michael said. "Not even I have ESPN 2, I'm lucky I have one."
"Maria
honey," Margie popped her head into the window. "That 'lil Wendy is
gonna
throw a fit if you don't say goodbye to her before she leaves."
"Michael,
stay with Willy?" Maria asked.
"No
problem," Michael turned to the boy. "So, what' s your favorite
team?"
***
Maria smiled
after the little girl, waving her finger as the girl's parents
carried her to the elevator. She waved vigorously, threatening to fall out of
her father's arms.
Maria sighed,
turning, looking down at her roses. They were so beautiful. He
wanted to be her boyfriend, he had said. How could she respond to that? They
hadn't been on one date yet, and she wasn't sure how she felt about him. She
wasn't sure if he really felt this way about her, or if it was just part of the
game. When you spend so long hating someone it's hard to switch.
She sighed, setting the roses down on the front desk, leaving them there to pick
up later.
Turning, she
started to go down the hall to check on Michael and make sure he
and Willy didn't break any windows with that stupid baseball. "Look
out!!" she
screamed, jumping out of the way just in time to feel the whoosh of the
wheelchair as it sped by, Michael pushing it for all he was worth.
She put a hand to her heart, willing herself to breathe.
"Death by
wheelchair. What a way to go."
At least she knew no windows were broken, legs and drive by patient crashes she
wasn't too sure about. She sighed, hoping Margie would find them and put them in
their places.
***
"Michael
Guerin where are you?!"
It had been two
hours since she had last seen him. She had been all over the
floor looking for him and hadn't found a thing. Willy was back in his place,
telling her Margie made Michael put him back. From there he wasn't sure.
So here she was, wandering the hall calling his name like she was looking for a
lost puppy.
"My
birthday is in two weeks," a girl proudly declared.
"Wow."
There he was, Michael, hiding out in Katy Marone's room. She was about
to go in, to grab him up and give him a proper scolding, but she stopped,
looking
in the door through the small crack.
"How old
are you going to be?" Michael was asking.
"10,"
Katy said, but she looked sad. "I get my tests Friday."
"I'm sure
you'll do fine," Michael said, smiling.
"But what
if I don't?" her voice threatened to break. "I'm too young to
die."
He chuckled,
stroking her hair. "I doubt you'll die," he said softly.
"But what
if I do? I've never done ANYTHING," Katy said. "I've never done what
they do in movies. I've never been kissed, I've never seen Paris, and I've never
owned a car." The girl's eyes were wide, tears spilling down her puffy
cheeks.
"I don't
want to die."
"You
won't," Michael said. "I'll tell you what," he said. "I'll
fix one of those
never's."
He leaned over,
kissing her on the corner of her mouth. "There, now you've been
kissed." She giggled.
Maria gasped,
the touching scene bringing tears to her eyes. She leaned against
the wall, sliding down slowly and bringing her knees to her chest. She was
convinced. Now. Totally and utterly convinced. She was in love with him.
Maria
DeLuca was in
love with Michael Guerin, Public Enemy Number 2.
***
She looked
critically in the mirror, taking in her appearance with the scrutiny
of a girl who wants everything to be perfect. Her outfit was cute, but not
dressy, the kind of outfit that was perfect for a day out of doors. She wondered
how Michael would look in his outfit. Her hair was brushed out straight, no
clips, no headbands, just hair.
She turned;
looking at herself from the back, making sure the skirt didn't make
her ass look big. She wanted today to be absolutely perfect.
***
"What!"
Isabel glared at Michael from her perch on his kitchen counter. "But you
promised us you would go, with us." She looked at Max, who looked sheepish.
"Actually
Isabel," he said. "I made plans with Liz to go."
Her mouth
dropped open. "You too!!" She jumped off the counter. "I cannot
believe this. I'm being dumped for the perky pixie and the science queen."
She grabbed her
jacket, fuming. "We made these plans WEEKS ago, I have barely
spent any time with either of you lately because you're off pining for
those...those..." she glared at them. "Ugh. Why do I even
bother?"
Michael sighed.
"Isabel we can go tomorrow, today is the last day with Maria,"
Michael said. "And I'm going to make the best of it."
"I don't
understand you at all, Michael," Isabel snapped. "A few days ago you
were itching to get her back for all the crap she put you through. Don't you
remember? What did she do to you?" She looked at him desperately.
"I didn't
want to get her back," Michael said. "I just wanted to get her, and
now I have the chance..." He looked at her, pleading. "Please,
Isabel," he said.
Isabel put her hand to her mouth, eyes wide. "Oh my god," Isabel said.
"This is
how it's going to be, isn't it?" She looked at Max. "You trading
coefficients
with the Science Queen and you--" she turned to Michael. "--you
spending every
waking moment with Ditzy DeLuca."
Michael sighed.
"Isabel--"
She cut him
off. "No I get it, no room for Isabel," Isabel backed towards the
door. "Fine. But I have one thing to say to both of you." She glared
at them,
all mighty Queen Isabel in control now. "If I'm getting left out, then by
god so
are you."
She yanked the
door open, not shooting them another glance as she stalked out,
head high.
***
"Wow,"
Michael said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "You look amazing. It's
just a day at a carnival."
She grinned,
taking his offered arm. "I wanted to look nice," she said.
"You're
not looking too shabby yourself there, Ken." She reached up, brushing her
hand
against a silky spike of hair. "Except Ken uses Barbie's gel
occasionally."
He smiled.
"I wouldn't be Michael without the spikes," he said.
"Which is
why if you steal Barbie's gel I'll kill you," she smirked as they
walked.
"We're not
taking the car," he said. "The carnival is in the park, only a few
blocks."
"I
remember," she said, thinking back to the ice cream, and the first day she
realized that something was extremely different between her and one Michael
Guerin.
"Guess
what?"
"What?"
"Max is
taking Liz."
She squealed.
"Really! Oh it's about time!" she bounced around, happily.
He laughed. "I knew that'd make you happy," he took her hand.
"Come on, I'm
going to introduce you to the wonder that is cotton candy."
***
"I did
not!" she laughed, picking another piece of the pink stringy stuff off
his stick.
"Hey!"
he said. "That's why I bought you your own."
Maria pouted. "It's all gone," she looked longingly that the empty
stick.
"I told
you to pace yourself, cotton candy is potent stuff," he said. "You'll
get a tummy ache."
He ripped
another piece off his stick holding it out. "Open."
She obeyed. He popped it in her mouth, she nipped his finger playfully.
"Hey!"
he looked critically at his finger. "I think you drew blood."
"Oh, you
big baby, I did not," she gingerly took his finger kissing the tip.
"Better?"
She looked up; his eyes were dark and burning into hers. "
Oh yeah,"
he leaned down slowly, her lips slightly parted in anticipation and
her eyes slid closed, their lips were mere centimeters away.
"Maria!"
he jumped back guiltily and Maria's eyes snapped open, startled at the
sing songy.
"Hey,"
Liz smiled at her friend, her arm entwined with one Max Evans, who
couldn't be happier.
"Hey,"
Maria bit out, teeth clenched. Dammit, they had been so close. "How's it
going?"
"Great!
Max is mad because he can't win any of the games," Liz poked her
"date"
in the stomach.
"They're
rigged, everyone knows that," Max said.
"Games?
There are games?" Maria turned to Michael, accusatory. "You never
mentioned games."
"All in
due time, my dear," he said. "All in due time."
"Well,
come on," she yanked on his arm. "Let's go!"
She looked at
Max and Liz. "Going to come with?"
Liz shrugged.
"Sure," she looked at Max. "That okay with you?"
He shrugged as
well. "I don't have a problem with it," he said.
Michael cursed, like he wanted to spend the day with Max Evans and Liz Parker.
***
"You were
so close," Maria squealed.
Michael glared at the carnie, his fist clenched around the little white balls.
He tossed another one; it bounced off the rim and then continued to bounce until
it reached the end. Another miss. He tossed the last ball; it bounced off one
rim, onto another and then sunk evenly into a bowl.
Maria squealed.
"We have a
WINNER," the carnie said, surprised, and not a bit happy. He grabbed
the bowl, dumping the contents into a plastic baggie and expertly tying the top.
"For the
pretty young lady," he said, handing it to Maria.
"Ahh, it's
so cute," Maria looked into the bag, smiling at the startled goldfish
inside of it.
Liz glared at
Max. "See? There not all rigged."
Max sighed, shooting Michael a glare.
Maria cooed at her fish, making a fish face at him.
Michael burst
out laughing. "Come on, I'm starving," he said, placing his hand
possessively at the small of her back and leading her to the food court.
"What
should I name him?" she said, studying the fish.
He shrugged.
She looked at
him. "I think I'll name him Michael," she said finally. "He
reminds me of you."
Michael choked.
"I remind you of a fish. Gee, thanks."
Maria laughed.
"No, look," she pointed to him. "He's the small, silent, broody
type."
"I assure
you, madam, there is nothing small about me," he said meaningfully.
Maria blushed, concentrating harder than necessary on the fish.
"Yeah," she said
softly, looking at the fish. "I think Michael will be perfect."
***
"These are
so greasy," Maria laughed, her fish carefully hanging from a branch
that Michael had rigged up so she wouldn't have to hold him.
He leaned back, laying his head on her lap and looking up at her. "Feed me,
Seymour."
Maria laughed
again, picking up a greasy fry. "Open up," she smirked.
He obeyed, opening his mouth wide.
She popped a
fry in. "Think fish like fries?" she ate a fry of her own, and then
popped another into Michael's mouth.
He chewed and
swallowed. "Doubt it," Michael said. "I think you should stick to
flakes."
She gave him
another bite. He nipped her finger. "Ow! I think you drew blood,"
she mimicked.
He glared at
her, grabbing her hand and bringing it to his lips. "Poor baby," he
said, kissing each finger. "Just so I get the right one."
"Of
course," she laughed.
"So tell
me, Maria DeLuca," Michael said, not dropping her hand, rather tracing
letters into the palm, sending shivers down her spine. He seemed to do that a
lot.
"Why did
you decide to go on a date with me?"
"Well,
let's see," Maria said. "It sure as hell wasn't your charm."
Michael
scoffed. "Hey! I can be charming," Michael protested.
She patted his
head. "Keep dreaming. It wasn't your movie star good looks."
Michael smiled.
"You think I'm good looking?"
"You can
hold your own," she said. "It's not your pleasant demeanor." She
wrinkled her nose.
Michael
growled. "I can be pleasant."
"As a
grizzly bear."
"I resent
that. If I'm not charming, my looks aren't move star quality and I'm
not pleasant to be with then why did you decide to go on this date with
me?" he
asked seriously, looking up.
"Cause it
was you," she popped another fry into his mouth before he could say
more. "Why did you decide to ask me out?"
Michael thought
a moment. "That's quite a complicated question," Michael said
seriously. "Because you're beautiful," he reached up, lightly tracing
her face.
"And
you're smart," he stroked her hair for a moment. "And you're so
sweet...and
caring..." he brushed his thumb across her lips. "And you're just the
person for
me." She let out a shuddering breath.
"Even if
you have an obnoxious laugh." He grinned.
She swatted
him, squealing in rage. "I do not have an obnoxious laugh!" she
growled.
He sat up,
laughing. "You're right," he said. "You have the perfect
laugh."
To prove his point, he grabbed her around her waist, spilling the remains of
their lunch on the ground. She squealed and tried to squirm away, laughing
uncontrollably
as he tickled her. It was turning out to be the perfect day after all.
***
"That is
like, so disgusting," Tiffany Glenmoore raised an eyebrow in the
couple's direction, not risking wrinkling her nose in disgust in fear of lines.
"Tell me
about it, could they be more sickening?" Ashley Parkson tossed her
all-but-natural honey blonde hair out from her heavily made up face.
"Are they
always like that?" Tiffany looked to Isabel.
"No,"
Isabel said. "I've never actually seen them together."
"I know!
It's bizarre, I always thought they like, couldn't stand each other or
something,"
Ashley popped
some sugar-free Trident into her mouth. "We should like tell them
how utterly gross they are."
"Don't
worry," Isabel said, standing up. "I'm working on it."
***
"I'll be
right back," Maria said. "All that soda's catching up with me."
Michael nodded, giving her hand a squeeze.
"Watch
Michael." She handed him the fish.
He rolled his
eyes as she all but skipped to the bathroom. He looked at the
fish. "I feel really bad for you, bud," he said to the fish. "You
have to live
with her."
The fish blew
him a few bubbles in response. "But I guess that wouldn't be so
bad." The fish blubbed again, swimming around in the plastic bag.
"You don't say
much," Michael observed. "But I'm sure she'll talk enough for the both
of you."
"Having
fun talking to a fish, Michael?" Max laughed, startling the boy.
Michael spun
around. "Max!" he yelped.
"Where's
Maria?" Liz asked.
Michael looked down at their clasped hands and resisted the urge to smile.
"Nature
called," he pointed in the direction of the bathroom.
Liz nodded. She looked at the fish. "He's so cute," she glared at Max.
Max shrugged
helplessly.
"Still no
luck, man?" Michael asked.
Max shook his
head. "I swear they're all rigged," he protested.
Liz shook her head.
Michael looked
at the large bear Max was holding. "Then where did that come
from?" Michael asked.
Max ducked his head sheepishly.
"I won
that at the water pistol race," Liz rolled her eyes. "So much for a
knight in shining armor." She poked Max's stomach playfully. "So what
have you
two been up to?"
***
Maria looked
critically in the mirror, glad she had gone with the natural look
in makeup instead of caking it on. Her hair was a little messy but a finger comb
fixed that. She washed her hands.
"Maria,"
she spun around, coming face to face with Isabel herself.
"Hey,
Isabel! I didn't know you were here! Why didn't you come over and say
hello?" Maria grabbed a paper towel.
"You're
not here with Michael, are you?" Isabel asked, concerned.
"Yeah,
why?"
"Oh god, I
told him not to do it," Isabel sighed. "Maria, listen to me,
okay?"
Maria nodded, not sure what she was getting at.
"Michael
is just playing with you," Isabel said, impressed at her own acting
abilities. "He cheated at that game and I--" she looked down, ashamed.
"I helped
him." She looked up quickly. "But I didn't know at the time that he
was actually
going to go through with this."
"Go
through with what?" Maria asked, anger rising. He had cheated?
"He's just
using you," Isabel said softly. "I came here to warn you about him.
He wanted to get you back, for all the times you've humiliated him so he
decided...he decided." She took a deep breath.
"What did
he decide, Isabel?" Patience had never been a virtue of hers.
"He
decided to lead you on, so that you would like him or something, so he could
dump you in front of everyone," Isabel said. "I'm so sorry."
Her world crashed in on itself, anger rising in her stomach and tears stinging
her eyes. It made sense now. The abrupt change from Michael the jerk to Michael
the sweetheart, the sudden crush signs he was exhibiting and how suddenly it had
happened. How could she have been so stupid?
"Thank you
Isabel," Maria said softly, fearing that her voice would break and
betray her, that the tears would flow unchecked down her cheeks and she would be
humiliated.
"I'm
sorry, Maria," Isabel said, guilt rising in her chest.
How could she do that? Michael had been so happy and Maria, Maria hadn't done a
thing to her. But no one neglected Isabel Evans; no one blew her off to spend
time with someone else.
"If you'll
excuse me," she said, pushing past the taller girl.
Isabel watched her, wishing she could take it back. "Maria!" she
called, but it
was to late, the door slammed behind the girl and Isabel was left alone, guilt
filling her eyes with tears.
She stood there a second, wondering how she could be so horrible.
***
"And here
she comes now," Michael smiled in greeting and then he saw her face.
Anger was written all over it, and tears, tears were sliding down her cheeks.
"Maria
what hap--"
And then his head was snapped sideways, a searing pain on his left cheek. His
jaw clenched. He heard Liz gasp and Max take in a breath.
"Are you
happy now?" she was shouting. "I fell for it, okay? The joke's on me.
I
get it now." She shook her head.
"What the
hell--"
She cut him
off. "Don't you dare," she said. "Don't you ever talk to me
again. I
mean, God," she looked to the sky, as if asking for strength, or the words
she
wanted to say. "I fell for you and... and it was just a game to you. To
humiliate me. Well, congratulations, Michael, you succeeded." Maria took in
a
shuddering breath, the tears flowing faster now.
"And to
think I trusted you." She hissed. "I trusted you." She wiped her
eyes.
"I should
have known, why would Michael Guerin suddenly go from hating my guts
to acting like I was the only thing he ever thought about in a space of a
week?"
She shook her
head. "I hope you're happy. I hope you go home and you laugh until
your sides ache and you just can't take it anymore. I hope you laugh until you
cry."
He watched her
for a second, the tears, and he reached out to grab her, but she
was gone, taking off across the park. "Maria! Maria wait!"
"Michael,"
he whirled, coming face to face with Isabel.
"I'm
sorry." Isabel said.
"What did
you do?" Michael asked, teeth clenched, eyes burning into hers.
"I'm so
sorry." She was crying, Isabel Evans was actually crying.
"What did
you do?!" he yelled at her, one arm grabbing her and shaking her.
"I'm
sorry..."
***
He couldn't
find her anywhere. The clock on her nightstand read 11:00, and the
darkness pressed in on him. Her fish was secured in a large glass bowl he had
found in her kitchen, sitting on her dresser. She wasn't at home. She hadn't
been at home all night. He had combed the town looking for her, dispatching Liz
and Max to help.
He couldn't
even look at Isabel without wanting to kill her, without wanting to
rip her hair out by the blonde roots. She had gone home, not able to face him
anymore, not able to deal with the anger in his eyes that flashed whenever he
saw her.
So here he was,
waiting, waiting for Maria to come home. The carnival would end
at 12:00 and she had to come home eventually.
The phone rang,
the shrill sound breaking into his thoughts. "Maria?" he asked
into the phone.
"I found
her," Liz said, out of breath. "She's at the carnival, on the hill in
front of the clock tower."
He didn't even
wait for her to finish. He threw the phone down and raced out the
door, down the stairs and out the front door, running for all he was worth
towards the park.
***
He stopped
running when he saw her, sitting on the side of hill, knees drawn up
to her chest, staring blankly out at nothing. He approached her slowly.
"Maria?"
he asked.
She shot up,
whirling. "Go away," she said, voice broken. "I thought I told
you
I didn't want to talk to you."
"Maria,
please," he looked at her, pleading with her to listen to him. "Just
hear me out."
"There's
nothing to hear," Maria said. "It's all clear."
"No, it's
not," Michael said. "Isabel was lying."
She laughed.
"Yeah, right," Maria said. "Did you cheat on the card game,
Michael?" She looked at him.
He stood there, silent.
"Did you
cheat at the card game??"
He nodded.
She made a little noise in her throat, somewhere between a scoff and a laugh.
"But not
because I wanted to humiliate you," Michael said. "Isabel suggested it
but I told her no."
"Right,"
Maria said sarcastically. "Because you're such a good person, right,
Michael?" She turned, starting to walk away.
"No."
Michael said. "Because I'm in love with you."
She froze,
turning slowly, eyes angry. "Stop it," she said.
But he didn't
stop. "I've been in love with you since the day I met you,"
Michael said, walking up the hill towards her. "In the diner. I was in love
with
you the minute you came to take our orders."
"And I
suppose all these years of making fun of me and generally making my life
hell was just your way of showing it?" she sneered. "Please."
"No,"
Michael said. "I did that because I wanted to get your attention."
"Well you
did, congrats."
"I cheated
on the card game so that I would have a way to spend some time with
you," Michael said. "I didn't know you were going to do the slave
thing, but I
figured you'd give me something valuable or something and I could return it to
you...and maybe...and maybe be a nice guy in your eyes."
He saw her
falter and he had a flicker of hope. "Isabel's been playing poker
since she was 5, her aunt's a card shark or something. She decided to act like
she didn't know how to play so she could be the dealer and cheat for me,"
Michael said, walking a little closer. "I told her the reason why I wanted
to
win and she was only to happy to help."
"Then why rat you out now?"
"She got
jealous," Michael said. "I was supposed to come to the carnival today
with her and Max but me and Max went with you and Liz instead and she felt left
out." Michael shrugged. "She doesn't like to play second."
"Say I
believe you now," Maria said. "When this is all over how do I know
you're
not going to betray me? After I'm not your slave, how do I know you won't rub
this in my face and humiliate me?"
Michael stepped
closer, now standing right in front of her. Close enough to kiss
her. "You don't," Michael said. "We'll just have to find
out."
Maria shook her
head. "I don't know..."
Michael looked
at her, pleading. "Maria please, I won't betray you, I'd never do
that," he said. "When I saw you crying today my heart broke, with
every tear it
crumbled a little more. I waited in your room for 6 hours waiting for you to
return," he said. "And when Liz told me she saw you here I ran here as
fast as I
could to get to you."
Maria took in a
breath. "I believe you," she softly. "I don't know why, but I
do."
He grabbed her,
pulling her to his chest. "I won't betray you," he said softly
into her hair.
The chiming of
the huge clock tower broke into the moment. Twelve chimes, clear
and concise.
"That's it
then," Michael said.
Maria held her breath. He reached into his pocket, taking out the necklace.
"You're
free." He draped it around her neck, clasping it in the back.
"No,"
Maria shook her head. "I'm not."
"Yes, you
are, it's midnight," Michael said.
"I
know," Maria smiled. "But I'm yours forever."
His lips caught hers, the kiss gentle at first, chaste, lips touching lips, but
the sparks were there, coursing through her body. There was a BANG and Maria
gasped, pulling away from him.
"Relax,"
he smiled. "It's just the fireworks show, it was scheduled for
midnight."
She let out the
breath. "Oh," she said. "It startled me."
He grinned. "Now," he said. "Where were we?"
***
Epilogue:
"Don't
deal yet" Maria said, "We'll be back in just a minute." She
twirled back
into the kitchen.
Michael watched
her, shaking his head. "Just ignore her man, I do," he said.
Alex nodded, shuffling the cards absently.Max sat a
cross the table, eyeing the
swinging door to the kitchen. The giggles and squeals emitting from the kitchen
freaked
him out a bit, he didn't want to know what they were doing.
"We're
back," Maria flounced back in, carrying a bowl of chips, Liz and Isabel
desperately trying to keep striaght faces.
Michael still
wasn't comfortable around Isabel, not fully forgiving her, but
Maria had insisted that Isabel hadn't meant to do it and that she was really a
good person on the inside, so he accepted her back into thier lives, grudgingly.
"So,"
Isabel said, picking up the cards. "What'll it be?"
Alex shrugged.
"Seven Card Stud?"
There were nods and shrugs around the table.
"Seven
Card Stud it is," Isabel said. "Jokers and dueces wild."
She began to deal, hands deftly moving over the cards, handing one to each
person in turn until she reached seven. Michael looked at his hand,
nothing.
Beside him,
Maria squirmed, grinning like a
cheshire cat at her hand. He tossed in his ante, deciding to humor her.
Whatever she
had it had to be good.
"Fold,"
Isabel sighed.
"Me
too," Max tossed down his cards.
"Me
three," Alex threw his cards down as well.
It was just between the three of them. Liz bit her lip in concentration. Maria
grinned and giggled periodically.
"Raise
20," Liz said, tossing in her chips.
"Call,"
Michael tossed in his own.
"I see
your 20," Maria said, tossing in 20. "And raise you," she reached
into
her pocket. "My grandmother's heirloom necklace."
"Folding."
Liz quickly said, tossing her cards in.
"Hey, no
fair," Michael growled. "My chips don't cover that."
"You could
bet your car."
Michael shook
his head. "No way," he snapped.
"Then you
lose," Maria said, knowing how much her boyfriend hated to lose.
"Fine,"
Michael said. "I bet myself."
Maria raised an eyebrow.
"You can
do it but I can't?" He took off his silver ring, tossing it onto the
pile.
"Fine.
Show 'em." Maria said.
He set down his hand of nothing, a good bluffer.
Maria squealed. Setting down her cards.
His eyes got
wide. "A royal flush?"
"What are
the odds?"
The End