Maria

“Well goodbye Noo Yawk!” said AJ exaggeratedly as the Boys boarded a plane bound for LA. They had just finished a weekend of interviews in New York and were heading to LA to start rehearsals for their next tour. AJ settled himself in a seat by Howie. “How ya doin’ D?”
“I’m good bro. You?”
“Tired dude, tired,” AJ admitted. “I’m lookin’ forward to gettin’ my name on a bed.”
Howie laughed. “Yeah.”
“So…” AJ gave his friend a long look. “Ya gonna tell me what the deal is with Cathy?”
“Oh, I dunno,” Howie groaned. “She’s my friend and I think a lot of her but…”
“You don’t love her, right?”
“Right. But she has these feelings for me and I don’t wanna hurt her.”
“So ya figure you’ll date her a while and then end it when someone better comes along?” AJ asked. “That’s not hurtin’ her?”
“I know,” Howie sighed. “But what if there is no one better AJ? Ya know, what if this whole ‘she’s the one’ thing is just a fantasy?”
“Jeez, I hope not,” AJ said morosely.
“YOU’RE ok, you got Maria.”
“Maria? No, I haven’t. I don’t think anybody’s got Maria,” AJ said sadly.
“But I thought you guys…” Howie sounded confused.
“No, I’m not the one ya know? And I guess that means she’s not mine but I wish she was. Love sucks sometimes Howie.”
“Have you broken up then?” Howie tried to keep the hope out of his voice and AJ gave him a quick look.
“No, we’re still together. We’re still havin’ fun.”
“But that’s not FAIR,” Howie exclaimed. “You should end it so you can go find the right one. For BOTH of you.”
“Since when was life fair?” asked AJ wryly before chuckling. “At least this particular piece of unfairness works in my favour.”

“Ria… Please…” AJ wheedled through her cell phone and she laughed.
“Haven’t you got enough to keep you busy?”
“Nup, I want YOU to keep me busy.”
Maria laughed and flipped open her desk diary. “Well, I don’t have any interviews next week so I guess I could get away for a long weekend in LA.”
“Yeah? Oh wicked!” he laughed. “When can ya fly out?”
“I dunno… Friday?”
“Aw, make it Tuesday.”
“I have got a job ya know,” she giggled.
“Ok, then… Wednesday.”
“Try Thursday.”
“Hm, ok then. Shall I book it?”
“I’ll do it. I’ll call ya on Wednesday with the details. Ok now?”
He laughed. “Just perfect. I missed ya.”
“Miss you too,” she smiled. “I’d better get on with my story if I want to convince Jay to let me have time off.”
“Ok, bye Ria,” he hung up and she smiled at the phone.
It was amazing how quickly she had gotten used to him being around, and now he was away she missed him. She missed him cheering her up after a bad day at work. She missed his bad jokes. She missed his craziness. Sure, she missed his kiss and his arms and his body too. But she had to admit to herself that all of that came a definite second to the rest of him. He was more of a friend to her now. She was looking forward to spending time with him at the weekend but Howie’s face crept into her mind and she groaned. They had not spoken to each other since her parting shot in Tabu.

“Hi Maria.”
Maria turned around to see Howie stood in front of her. “Uh, hi Howie.”
“AJ got stuck doin’ interviews so he asked if I’d come meet ya,” he explained. “Is that ok?”
“Sure. I could’ve found my own way but…thanks.”
“Is this your bag?” he grabbed her case and led the way out to the waiting taxi. They climbed in the back. “Good flight?”
“Uh ya know… It didn’t crash,” she shrugged and he laughed. She joined in and they smiled at each other warmly for the first time since they had met.
“That IS good.” There was a short silence. “Maria, I’m sorry about what I said to you in Tabu. It was nothin’ to do with me and I apologise.”
“I’m sorry about what I said too.” Maria looked at him. “Is Cathy here too?”
“Uh, no. She had to work.”
“Oh. I liked her.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty cool,” Howie avoided Maria’s gaze. “I bet you can’t wait to see AJ again.”
“Something like that,” Maria avoided Howie’s gaze as well. Finally he laughed and she looked at him.
“Jeez, we’re both crap at avoidin’ the question.”
“I guess,” she laughed weakly. “So, it’s not the real thing with Cathy?”
“Not even almost,” he admitted. “And AJ?”
“Ditto,” she sighed.
“I know,” he held her gaze for the longest minute before looking out of the window again. “I know,” he whispered.

“Mm, it is good to see you again Ria,” AJ murmured as he turned out the light in the hotel room. He had ‘forgotten’ to book her a separate room so she was sharing his. He crept into the bed and snuggled up to her, kissing her shoulder.
“It’s good to see you too,” she smiled. He moved his lips up her body to her mouth and deepened the kiss. Maria found it hard to respond. All she could see was Howie’s face. Damn him. That car trip with him had been almost more than she could bear. Every time his body had brushed hers she had felt like she was on fire. And his eyes… God, his eyes were something else.
“Ria?” She opened her eyes to meet AJ’s dark gaze.
“Sorry, I’m just tired.”
“It’s over isn’t it?” She stared at him and he rolled back onto his back. “Us, we’re over.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m sorry AJ.”
“Don’t be.”
“I’ll leave in the morning.”
“No,” he reached for her hand. “Don’t leave.”

“Where’s Maria?” Howie joined AJ at breakfast.
“Still asleep.”
“Oh,” Howie felt a pang of jealousy and anger as he briefly imagined what had happened last night to make Maria so tired.
“It’s over,” AJ said quietly as he stirred his coffee slowly.
“What is?”
“Me and Ria.”
“It is?”
“Yeah. It was time,” he shrugged. “It was good while it lasted.”
“So, she’s leaving?”
“No, I asked her to stay. She’s my friend. She’s always been my friend first and I’d be a fool to throw that away.”
“Wow, when’d you grow up Alexander?” asked Howie lightly.
“Grow up? Me?” AJ looked insulted and then laughed. “Never.”

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