"What did you say to her?" Isabel asked Michael from the back seat of Max's jeep.
"Nothing could we not talk about selfish me for a little while?" Michael asked crossing his arms across his chest.
"Well, we could talk about Valenti and us being in constant danger, but darnit that would be way to much fun."
"Michael, you have to realize that Maria is the type of girl who does not like to be played. Well, actually all of us don't like to be played." Isabel put a hand on his shoulder, "but Maria is really hurt. I could tell this morning."
"Michael you have to be careful. Maria is one of our only friends. If you don't like her, then don't play with her feelings anymore." Max said, steering the jeep around a curve.
"I'll take care of it," Michael said gruffly, "and I'll be careful not to hurt her feelings. Okay? Max?"
"Okay." Max replied with a smile and a sigh.
"Izzy?" Michael turned to her.
"Okay."
"Are you okay to close?" Liz asked Maria.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry. Go have fun with Max." Maria smiled, "Go before I make you take out the trash!"
"Okay, I'm gone." Liz opened the door and turned around, "if Michael stops by...."
"I'll kick him right out. Be sure of that."
"Okay....g'night." Liz walked out the door.
Maria went to the door and locked it, and turned over the 'Sorry We're Closed' sign. Then she went into the back and started re-filling the salt and pepper shakers. After a little while, she started humming a song she heard on the radio. She was so pre-occupied that she didn't hear the door open and close.
"Hey Maria."
"Agh!" Maria screamed, dropping a salt shaker. She turned to see Michael standing in the kitchen doorway.
"How did you get in? I locked the door."
"I...uh..let myself in."
"Really? So along with being an asshole, you're also a criminal? Why does that not surprise me?" She bent over to pick up the fallen shaker.
"I came to appologize," Michael said quietly, " I was a jerk. I'm sorry."
"Am I supposed to get all excited or something? So you appologized." Maria said angrily, turning around and continuing her work.
"What do you want me to say?"
Maria continued filling the shakers. She turned around,"Are you still here?"
She went back to ignoring him, trying was a better word, because she could still feel him in the room. It tore her heart out, but she was determined to make him feel exactly the way he had made her feel.
"Fine." Michael angrily turned on his heels and left.
Maria turned around and looked at the spot he had been standing in. She shook her head and felt a tear roll down her cheek.
"Look Maria!" Liz grabbed a dress off a rack, "this dress would be perfect for you to wear to the dance."
Liz held the dress up to Maria. "It brings out your eyes."
Maria took the dress and walked over to a full length mirror. "Yeah, I can see some definate potiential. This would be perfect, except I'm not going."
"Maria." Liz said frowning, "You can't let Michael ruin your fun."
"I know..." Maria sighed, "he stopped by last night..."
"What?" Liz interupted, "Why didn't you tell me?" Liz walked over to Maria and sat down on the bench.
"He came to appologize, and I was a complete bitch. I completly ignored him, and .....I don't know what I was thinking..."
"You wanted to hurt him, like he did you?"
"Yeah I guess," Maria sat down next to Liz, "I actually think he meant it too."
"Well what did he expect after he treated you that way?"
"I don't know. Let's not talk about this anymore." She stood up and looked into the mirror, "I think your right about this dress..."
"Liz and I are going to the dance tomorrow night. Why don't you go with us Michael?" Max turned and posed. He was trying on his new tux.
"Nice...No I don't think I'm going. I don't want to chance running into Maria there."
"Why not? Didn't you appologize?" Max asked, un-tying his tie.
"Yeah, but she just went frosty on me. I don't understand it."
"Michael, you hurt her feelings. What do you expect. Give her some time."
"I don't know," Michael sighed and walked over to the window.
"Hey if you change your mind, you could borrow one of my dad's tuxes."
"Thanks a lot, Maxwell. Seeya." Michael climbed out of the window.
"Are you ready?" Max called.
"Yeah."
Max turned around and gasped. Liz walked into his living room. She was a vision. Her dress was made of a silky, red material. It had spagetti straps and a low-cut back. Her hair was piled on top of her head with little ringlets cascading down.
"What do you think?" She asked, timidly walking toward him.
"You look beautiful." He could tell he was blushing.
"Thank you. You look good too."
"So shall we?" He held his arm out to her.
"We shall." She laughed and took his arm.