Author: Kate
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I started writing this story in January of 2002, just after A Tale of Two Parties. It takes place in the summer of 2002, but nothing after that episode is valid.
Summary: What starts as a summer road trip changes multiple lives...for better, for worse, forever.
Category: Max and Liz, but I'm not opposed to including other couples as well
Rating: YTEEN-ADULT
I'm trying to keep my feet on the ground
I'm getting to like this feeling I've found
I'm getting to love the thought of having you around
And I will never let you down...
It doesn't matter how it ended or began
Sometimes the best thing you can do is change your plans
I hope you understand that
I will never let you down
Verve Pipe, Never Let You Down
1
Max Evans quickly scanned the late afternoon crowd at the Crashdown Café, his gaze finally settling on what he was looking for.
Liz Parker's eyes lit up from where she stood, wiping down the counter across the café. She sent Max a bright grin as he weaved his way through the tables followed by his friend, Michael Guerin.
"Hey." Liz accepted Max's quick peck on the cheek as he slid onto a stool at the counter across from her. "Tomorrow," she said excitedly, leaning closer toward the boys.
"Road trip, baby!" Michael crowed, drumming his hands on the edge of the counter.
Maria DeLuca emerged from the kitchen with a hot pot of coffee and a look directed at Michael. "You better have a menu figured out, Spaceboy, because I'm not eating pork and beans for a week and a half."
Michael made a face at his on-again, off-again girlfriend as she swooped out to her tables. "Good to see you, too, Blondie," he muttered.
Liz smiled at her best friend's dramatics. "She makes a good point, Michael. I mean, we're looking at ten days in a camper with six people. The air will be a little stuffy as it is."
"It's taken care of," Max assured. "We just finished at the grocery store, and we found lots of good stuff."
Liz's eyes narrowed. "How many?"
Max looked at her innocently, but then sighed. "Twenty six," he admitted.
"Twenty six bottles of Tabasco sauce," Liz repeated, shaking her head. "Sounds like Maria just lost more luggage space."
Michael shrugged. "Eh. That's Jesse's problem to deal with."
Liz supposed that was true. After all, they'd divided different essentials for the trip amongst themselves. Liz had arranged to borrow the camper from her uncle, Max had kept track of the finances, Maria had mapped out the route, and Michael was responsible for food. Jesse Ramirez was to ensure all necessary supplies made their way into into the camper, and Isabel Evans-Ramirez had appointed herself the official tour guide. From landmarks along the way to the Grand Canyon itself, Isabel knew Roswell, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona, and everywhere in between.
Max couldn't help but smile at his sister's enthusiasm, remembering when they were kids and took a family trip to Disney World. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was closed for repairs, and Isabel's entire theme-park-plan-of-attack was destroyed. This road trip with their friends was giving her another chance to play tour guide.
As if on cue, Isabel swept into the Crashdown with an armful of brochures and a flustered Jesse trailing behind her and hopped onto a stool at the counter.
"Did you know there are some amazing volcano craters just north of Flagstaff with real lava formations," she announced to whoever was closest to her.
That person happened to be Michael, who had suddenly taken up a keen interest in the metal napkin holder in front of him and merely grunted.
Liz, however, perked at Isabel's announcement. "Really? I think we learned about that in our geology unit. Remember, Max, in Bio junior year."
Max arched an eyebrow at her. "Okay," he shrugged.
She couldn't help but grin. Being lab partners certainly hadn't hindered their growing relationship, but it didn't do much for their grade. Luckily for them, Liz was a born scientist and Max was more than willing to be tutored.
"We just happened to run across an article in a travel magazine at the library," Isabel was continuing, smoothing a glossy paper on the counter.
"Isn't it, like, illegal to remove stuff from the library's magazines?" Maria mused, joining them at the counter.
"Pish posh," Isabel dismissed primly. "Duplicated with a simple wave of the hand. Anyway, I also found a-"
"So 8 o'clock AM out back, right guys?" Jesse spoke up, cutting off an indignant Isabel and gently shuffling the papers out of her hands.
"8 o'clock sharp," Michael emphasized, looking directly at Maria.
"Oh, cool it, Spaceboy," Maria shot back. "Me and my bags will be on my front porch at 7:50. Don't keep me waiting."
Max and Liz shared an amused smile as she leaned over the counter and placed a lingering kiss on his lips. "I have to get back to work," she whispered, her nose wrinkling.
"I'll see you tonight," Max said quietly, his dark eyes gleaming as they followed Liz around the counter. Suddenly a blush crept onto her cheeks and she sent Max a mock glare over her shoulder, firmly tugging on the back of her uniform's short skirt. Sometimes Max enjoyed their open connection a little too much.
*****
"Hey gorgeous."
Startled, Liz whirled around from her closet to face Max as he climbed in through the open window. "Max, hi!"
Max tugged the handful of t-shirts from Liz and tossed them into the open duffel bag on the floor before grabbing her around the waist and fusing his lips to hers.
She moaned against his urgent exploration of her mouth and ran her hands along his muscular forearms until he finally pulled away, leaving them both breathless. "I've been thinking about that all day," he explained simply.
Liz grinned. "Mmm…and just think, after tonight we've got ten days straight of being together. Lying in each other's arms all night," she added, shivering at the delicious thought.
Max smiled back, rubbing his hands along the goosebumps on her upper arms. "When we set up the tent, anyway."
Giggling, Liz sat Max down on her bed and draped herself into his lap. "Right. Privacy." She absently began tracing her fingers on his thigh, just above his knee. "Just you and me, under the stars." She glanced up at him through the fringe of her eyelashes. "It will be perfect."
Max responded with a long, deep kiss before lying back on the bed with Liz. "As long as my neurotic tour guide of a sister gives us some free time," he said wryly.
"And Michael and Maria don't fight each other over the edge of the canyon," Liz added with a laugh as she snuggled up against Max.
"I think Jesse gets to act as keeper for all of them," Max decided, placing a kiss just below Liz's ear and working his way down her jaw to her neck.
Liz shivered with pleasure as Max's tongue explored the hollow of her throat. The quiet moan she elicited vibrated against Max's mouth, and he eagerly pulled her closer to him.
"Max…" she sighed reluctantly. "We can't…my dad is right down the hall…and I have to finish packing…" Liz's words were broken by Max's insistent lips against hers. "And you're driving first in the morning…"
Max rolled over onto his back, pulling Liz across his chest. "I think maybe I should just stay up all night then," he reasoned, tucking a strand of hair that had strayed from Liz's ponytail behind her ear.
"Nice try." Liz pecked the tip of his nose, wriggling off of him and to her feet.
Max sighed grudgingly, his eyes following her as she returned to her bag. Her little blue tank top hugged her curves in all the right places, and the gray shorts she wore showed off her shapely, tanned legs in a way that made Max absolutely crazy. Max loved her legs. Well, he loved every part of Liz, from the dimple in her left cheek to the tiny mole on her lower back to…
Calm down, Max. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of all the places he wanted to touch her right at that moment. He turned his gaze to her cluttered bedside table and caught sight of a small, round container.
"Liz?" he ventured, picking up the case and turning it over in his hands. "You haven't mentioned any headaches lately. Has it gotten better since you switched?"
Liz glanced up and saw that Max was studying her new birth control prescription. "Completely," she assured. "The pharmacist said it's normal for different people to have different hormonal reactions."
"Okay," he said, sounding considerably brighter. She could tell he had been concerned; concerned that it was his fault she had side effects from the first brand, that their making love was hurting her because he wasn't, well, quite like other guys.
"Max." Liz made her way back to the bed, sitting down beside him and taking the case from his hands. She linked her fingers with his and looked deep into his serious eyes. "I love when we make love." And it was true. In the six months since they first took their love and commitment to the most intimate of levels, Liz had never felt more complete. Their souls had belonged to one another since the day he healed her at the Crashdown, but there was no doubt that their bodies had been made for each other as well. Together, they were complete.
Liz's feelings flowed through their open connection, and a pleased glow settled throughout Max. He kissed her deeply and then got to his feet. "I'll see you in the morning, love."
*****
"Sweetheart, what are you still doing up?" Jesse came up behind Isabel at the kitchen table, sliding his arms around her.
Isabel smiled, but didn't look up from the maps spread out before her. She chewed thoughtfully on her pen cap and said, "I can't decide if we should make the jog north into Colorado or not."
"Izzy-"
"Because the more I look into it the more I really think we should see Mesa Verde National Park. The ruins sound absolutely amazing, with these palaces built into cliffs, and an ancient tribal sundial…"
Jesse stifled a yawn. "It sounds great, sweetheart. Why don't you come to bed now."
"But the problem," Isabel continued, "Is that we'd have to change our route, and we wouldn't have as much time to check out the historical park near the Continental Divide…"
Resting his chin on her shoulder, Jesse squinted at the large map Isabel had unfolded. "I don't think anyone will mind," he said honestly. "Besides, this way we can go to the Four Corners."
Isabel looked up at her husband, her tired eyes brightening. "You sound excited about that."
Jesse shrugged. "Well, I guess so. I mean, it's been a long time since I've been there. My mom took me there a couple times when I was a kid, and it was always a big deal." He smiled at the memory. "I thought it was so cool that part of me could be in four different states at one time."
"Then it's settled." Isabel kissed his cheek. "We'll change it around. I just have to-"
"Come to bed with me," Jesse finished for her, grabbing the pen from her fingertips.
"Go on ahead without me, honey, I'll be in in a little bit."
"That's what you said three hours ago," Jesse sighed, his breath tickling her ear. "I was lonely without you."
"I promise, it'll be just a few minutes." Isabel's wide brown eyes did nothing to curb Jesse's desire to lift his wife into his arms and take her to bed, but he resisted, seeing her determination.
"Izzy, relax. We're going to have lots of fun on this trip."
Isabel bit her lip, turning all the way around in her chair and facing her husband. "I want you to have fun," she said emphatically.
"What makes you think I wouldn't?"
"I just want to make it worth your while to take all this time off from the firm-"
"I had vacation time coming," Jesse reminded her.
"- And to take a road trip with a bunch of college kids," she finished quietly.
Jesse smiled gently. "One of whom is my wife. Besides, Iz, they're my friends, too. The age difference doesn't matter much. I always wanted to take a road trip when I was in college, I just never had the time."
"Really?" Isabel draped her arms around Jesse's neck.
"Absolutely," he assured. "And I can't think of a better group of people to go with. Between the six of us, there won't be a dull moment."
Isabel grinned. "Oh, I've made sure of that." She gestured to her clutter of research and quickly organized it with a wave of her hand. "Let's go, Mr. Ramirez, take your over-worked wife to bed."
"Gladly." Jesse swooped her off her feet, laughing at her squeal of surprise, and carried her back to their bedroom.
2
“Twenty six?!”
Liz exchanged a grin with Jesse as they heard the high pitched yelp of disbelief outside. “Sounds like Maria found the Tabasco,” she commented, hauling several duffel bags to the back of the RV. She paused, and sure enough, moments later came, “Way to go, Michael. Where the hell am I supposed to put my aromatherapy?”
“We’re going to hear about this the entire trip, aren’t we?” Jesse asked with a wry smile, lifting a box of food supplies into the small refrigerator.
“You know it.”
Jesse good-naturedly rolled his eyes. “Between my wife and your best friend…”
“Jesse! Liz!” Isabel poked her head into the camper, a look of business on her face. “Let’s get going on these groceries, shall we?”
“Yes, dear,” Jesse mumbled under his breath.
Liz shook her head in amusement as she watched Jesse dutifully make his way out of the camper. Following him outside to the alley behind the Crashdown, she nearly tripped over Maria’s box of aromatherapy supplies.
“Um, Maria?” She ventured, scooping up the box. “I’m not sure we’re gonna have enough room for this stuff. Why don’t you just leave it in my room while we’re gone.”
Maria’s eyebrows furrowed. “That’s a touching offer, Liz. But I’m going to need to stay relaxed or I’ll end up with a nervous breakdown on my hands. And nobody wants that.”
“You can say that again,” Michael muttered, passing the girls with a box of dry cereals and baked beans.
Liz pulled Maria toward the back door of the café before she could respond, passing Max as he dragged another one of Maria’s bags from the backseat of his car. With his free arm he grabbed Liz around the waist and pecked her cheek. “Are you girls almost ready?” he asked.
“We’ll be right out,” Liz promised. “Maria’s going to leave…some of her stuff here.”
“Not nearly enough,” Max responded, arching his eyebrow at Maria. “What in the world do you have in here?”
“Sedatives, Max,” she shot back. “Lots and lots of sedatives. Because it’s the only way I’ll survive the-“
“Okay,” Liz grabbed Maria’s arm and they made their way inside and up the stairs. “Maria, what’s going on with you and Michael now?”
“What makes you think it’s got anything to do with Michael?” Maria asked indignantly. The look Liz gave her made Maria sigh. “Yeah, okay, he’s just making me crazy is all. I mean, let’s think about this. We decided that after graduation, we’d just do the friends thing. Nothing more. You know, to give each other some space before college.”
Liz nodded, settling Maria’s box on her bed, and waited for her to continue. Which she did.
“Okay, so then why did he get so pissed off when I mentioned going to Julia’s graduation party with Steve Conner last weekend? It wasn’t a date, but I should be free to see other guys if I want to, right?” She sighed, pulling several vials from the box. “And now I’m going on a ten day road trip with him.”
“And four of your other closest friends,” Liz encouraged, giving Maria’s shoulders a squeeze. “Maria, don’t you dare tell me you’re getting seconds thoughts about coming.”
“On one condition.” Maria arched an eyebrow. “I get to bring my rose and cypress oils with me.”
“Right, fine. Let’s go.” Liz led Maria out of her room and almost ran right into her father. “Dad, hey, we’re just about to head out.”
Jeff Parker smiled at his only daughter. “So I’ve heard. Isabel sent me to find you two.”
The three made their way down the stairs and out the back door. Max and Michael were standing around watching as Isabel fervently double checked the list of supplies and Jesse reassured her everything had made its way into the RV.
“Except for,” Isabel glanced up to see the two girls. “Us! Let’s head em up and move em out!”
“Yee-haw!” Michael cheered sarcastically.
“Hold on, guys,” Liz said suddenly, ducking into the camper for a moment and reappearing with a camera. “We need a ‘before’ shot. Dad, do you mind?” She handed him the camera and shooed the group to stand before the RV.
“Say ‘cheeseburger’,” Jeff said. He snapped the shot; Jesse with his arm looped around a distracted-looking Isabel, Max standing behind Liz with his arms draped loosely around her waist as she leaned against him with a goofy smile, and Michael and Maria, keeping their distance from one another. Maria stood rigidly at one end with an exaggerated smile plastered across her face, while he stood at the other end leaning against the RV with a typical non-committal Michael look.
“Good idea, Liz,” Isabel commended. “Now let’s get going, it’s almost eight-thirty and we need to get to Albuquerque by lunchtime.”
“Sounds like you’re on a tight schedule,” Jeff said, an amused smile twitching across his lips.
Maria rolled her eyes. “Something like that. See you in a week and a half, Mr. Parker! Good luck running the Crashdown without us.”
“I’ll try to manage,” he said as he embraced Liz into a tight hug. “Drive safely, honey.”
“We’ll be fine, Dad,” she assured. “Give Mom a hug for me, too, when she gets back from Houston.”
“I will,” he said. “It sounds like she’ll need it after this conference.” He grinned at his daughter. “Have fun.”
Max approached slowly, offering a handshake. “Take care, Mr. Parker,” he said.
Jeff accepted and pumped his hand firmly. “You too, Max, have a good time.” Wonderful, an open invitation to my daughter, he thought wryly.
Liz watched this exchange with a smile. Her two favorite men in the entire world, and they’d been getting along ever since her father made his New Year’s Resolution that year, to give second chances. And Max had been extra careful not to take advantage of that.
After goodbyes and one final check of supplies, everyone climbed into the RV with Max behind the wheel and Liz crawling into the front seat beside him. “Are we ready to roll?” Max asked.
A bag of potato chips clipped the back of his head. “Just drive, Maxwell,” Michael called from the back of the RV.
“Aye aye,” Max muttered, turning to Liz as he snapped on his sunglasses and flashed her a grin.
Giggling, Liz said, “Just drive, Max.”
*****
Liz rested her head against the window, gazing out as the desert landscape raced by them and slowly became more urban. Sure enough, before long the buildings of downtown Albuquerque loomed in the distance. It was a strange sight to behold – rising up from the scrubby desert, a modern oasis.
“Landmark number one,” Max said wryly over the sound of Lenny Kravitz coming from the stereo in back.
“Yay!” Liz clapped her hands together and leaned back lazily in her seat, propping her bare feet up on the dashboard.
Max couldn’t help stealing a glance at his girlfriend’s legs, bare except for where her denim cutoffs rode up to the tops of her thighs.
“Eyes on the road, Max Evans,” Liz teased, still staring out the window.
Sighing, Max slid his sunglasses back up. “So many distractions.”
“Max!”
“Jesus, Iz,” he muttered, jumping at her shrill voice. “What?”
“You missed our exit!” she exclaimed, poking her head in from the back of the RV.
Max frowned slightly. “Uh…no, I didn’t.”
“Yes, Max, you did,” Isabel sighed. “We were supposed to get off at ramp 220. Which we just flew by.”
He thought quickly. “Change of plans, Izzy. I thought we could have lunch at that park on the UNM campus.”
“Max –“
“I know where I’m going, we drove up here for a tour last winter. Besides, I’m sure Maria would like the wander around her campus again. Right Maria?” he called back.
Liz placed her hand on his arm. “Um, Max…”
“Fine, fine,” Isabel interrupted, heading back into the RV. “But don’t get us lost.”
Max made a face at Liz. “So many distractions,” he grumbled again.
*****
Isabel seemed to loosen up considerably by the time Max maneuvered them downtown and they all had settled on a patch of grass at the park for lunch. She was even laughing as Michael and Jesse tossed grapes into the air and attempted to catch them in their mouths. Somehow her husband only managed to get hit in the chin, nose, or forehead with the green fruit, and Isabel couldn’t help but wonder if his competition had anything to do with it.
Max and Liz were relaxing nearby, Max propped up on one side with Liz leaning against his torso while his hand weaved through her dark hair. And Maria was sitting against a tree, regarding everyone with a bored expression.
“Come on,” she said finally. “This is a road trip. Let’s get the hell out of New Mexico already.”
“I hope you’re not tired of the campus already, Maria, because you’re gonna see an awful lot of it in about two months,” Jesse remarked, popping a grape into his wife’s mouth as he pulled Isabel to her feet.
“Right,” Maria said quickly, scrambling to stand. Liz sent her an uncomfortable glance, which she ignored, and began struggling with a large red cooler.
Michael reached to take it from her. “Here, I’ll get it.”
“I’ve got it, Spaceboy,” Maria snapped. “Geez, since when are you a gentleman?” She rolled her eyes, realizing just how much that cypress oil would come in handy.
Staring after her, Michael tried to hide his hurt expression. “Whatever,” he muttered darkly, following her to the RV.
Leaning over to Liz, Max said quietly, “I give it to the state line.”
“Until what?”
“Until they’re all over each other.”
*****
“Where’s Liz?” Maria asked, stifling a yawn as she and Isabel returned from the bathrooms located a short walk from where they’d camped out for the night in the Santa Fe National Forest. It had been a long day, between Max insisting they go to the University of New Mexico campus and Isabel leading them all over the Chaco Historical Park. After a day of “higher learning,” Maria’s head was ready to explode.
“They took the tent,” Jesse replied, nodding in the direction behind the RV.
“Thank God,” Michael muttered with a roll of his eyes.
What do you know, something we actually agree on, Maria thought dryly.
Isabel made a face. “Well they better not plan on it every night,” she argued. “I plan on spending some quality time with my husband.” She arched a seductive eyebrow in Jesse’s direction.
“Christ, Iz,” Michael groaned. “Some plans you just don’t share, even in good company.”
Maria unrolled her sleeping bag and flopped down onto it. “I think it’s really sweet,” she declared. “Like you’re still on your honeymoon or something.”
Jesse grinned, swooping his wife up into his arms. “With Izzy the honeymoon never ends.” And with that, he swept a giggling Isabel into the curtained partition at the very back of the RV.
Michael buried his face in his hands, which prompted Maria to hurl her pillow at him. “What?” he demanded. “Doesn’t it make you even slightly uncomfortable that we are surrounded by people having sex?”
Maria shoved her pillow under her head and rolled over to face the wall. “You’re just jealous because you aren’t getting any.”
*****
“Are you comfortable?”
“A little chilly,” Liz admitted, snuggling closer to Max under the blanket they shared in the small tent.
Max started to his feet. “I’ll get another blanket from the camper.”
“No, no,” Liz said quickly, grabbing his arm. “Stay here.”
“But you’re cold,” Max protested.
“So make me hot,” Liz responded, her voice husky.
Without hesitation, he rolled onto her and smiled. “Hmm, okay,” he murmured, his lips tingling the sensitive skin below her ear. “I think I can do that.”
Liz sighed, relishing in the feeling of his lips trailing along her jaw and his warm hands moving down her body. Already, she could feel him beneath his sweats and boxers, and she reached down to brush her hand against his growing hardness.
“Mmm,” he groaned, moving his lips to hers urgently. He lingered there for a moment before bringing them down to her neck. Liz gasped as she felt his erection pressing against her through the thin material of her nightshirt.
“Well,” she said, her flesh tingling as his tongue ran along her collarbone, “I’m definitely getting warm.”
Max responded by grinding his hips into hers, reaching back up to capture her mouth in another mind blowing kiss.
Sighing against his lips, Liz scraped her fingers down his bare, muscular back, her palms sliding along the smooth ripples. Despite the goosebumps rising against her fingers, Max groaned, “God…Liz…I’m so hot.”
Liz smiled, gazing at him from under hooded eyes, and gently pushed him up. Her hands reached for the drawstring on his cotton pants, and he helped her slide them down his legs so he could kick them off. Liz let out another sigh of desire at seeing his tented boxers and pushed him onto his back so she could straddle his hips with her thighs. Her nightshirt had ridden up to her waist, and Max slid his hands up and under to cup her supple breasts.
Moaning as his hands caressed her sensitive skin, Liz had to bite back a gasp as the pads of his thumbs circled over her tight nipples. Max gazed up at her, enraptured at seeing her that way; eyes closed, head thrown back in pleasure. Her tongue darted out, running across her lips erotically, and they both felt the instantaneous tightening in Max’s groin.
This sensation seemed to bring her back to him. She gazed down at Max, flushed and panting, and dipped her head to the waistband of his boxers. Her tongue darted under, running along his scorching flesh, applying more pressure when it encountered his sensitive tip before sliding back out and up his abdomen. His muscles clenched involuntarily beneath the wet warmth, and he ran his hands down from her lower back, clutching and squeezing over her panties.
“I want to feel you,” he breathed, hooking his thumbs in her panties and pulling them down her legs. He sucked in a deep breath and grazed his fingers through her curls before dipping one into her heat.
Liz gasped and tightened around his finger immediately, thrusting against his hand. That did it. Both scrambled with their remaining clothes, kissing wildly until Max was on top of Liz, trying to control his breathing as he lie prone against her.
“Max…I want you inside me,” Liz whispered, her dark eyes shining with love for him. Only for Max.
Max’s heart – as well as another part of him – swelled with his love for this woman lying beneath him, her chest heaving, her lips swollen with his kisses. He bent his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead before guiding himself to her center. They moaned together as he slid in, her muscles tightening around him. Both were still for a moment, their thoughts consumed only with the gentle squeezing sensation spreading through their bodies.
Max began to stir within her, first moving very slowly in and out, in and out. Liz grabbed his shoulders and matched his rhythm, crying out when he suddenly plunged into her depths. “Max, Max…oh God, Max…” she gasped into his neck as he embedded himself in her body, thrusting into her as if his life depended on it.
“Liz…baby…you feel so good,” Max groaned, burying his cheek in her hair and pressing his lips to her temple. He could feel himself racing to the edge, and he wanted them to fall together. He adjusted slightly, rising up so he pressed against just the spot he knew she needed at that moment.
“Maaaax!” Liz cried out, feeling the familiar flutter deep within her body as Max dove in and out, nailing her most sensitive crevice with each move. “I’m…I’m…oh God!”
Just as he began to come, Liz felt herself succumb as well. They leapt over together, riding out wave after wave of love and devotion, moving together until she felt him slow and finally still inside of her.
Still joined, Max collapsed against Liz, and she gladly accepted his warm weight. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on hers as they both attempted to calm their breathing. Liz fluttered her eyelashes against his and smiled gently. “Thank you for keeping me warm.”
3
It was bright and very early the next morning when they started on the three-hour trek to Mesa Verde. “Welcome to Colorado!” Isabel chirped from the driver’s seat.
Liz nudged Max, who was idly flipping through one of the park brochures Isabel had found. “Looks like you were wrong.” She nodded subtly toward Michael and Maria, who had camped out on opposite ends at the front of the RV. Michael was intently studying a map of the Grand Canyon, while Maria appeared to be extremely interested in the scenery they were passing.
Max shrugged, straight-faced. “Less competition for the tent.”
Liz smacked his arm playfully. “I just hope they won’t be too difficult,” she said, her voice low. “You know how they can get.”
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
*****
“You know, Isabel, this place is really cool,” Maria remarked as they climbed the dusty steps along the Cliff Palace. “I definitely support this change of route.”
“It’s amazing,” Liz marveled, snapping several pictures of the structure built into the side of the red rock cliffs. “The architectural precision is phenomenal, and with the Anasazi petroglyphs…this is not just a bunch of houses built into some sandy cliffs, this is like going back in time.”
“Sometimes I don’t understand a word that girl is saying, especially when she gets all scientific,” Michael muttered to Max as they brought up the rear of the group.
“That’s because you barely managed to graduate,” Max teased. “Besides, the geographics of planet Earth really aren’t your forte.”
Michael was quiet for a moment, thoughtful. “Hey Max, there’s something-“
“Guys, come here!” Liz waved her camera around. “The tour guide is going to get a picture of all of us in front of the Cliff Palace.”
Following Max, Michael jammed his hands into his pockets. “Never mind.”
After Liz had satisfactorily snapped a shot from each angle of the structure, the group retired for lunch near the visitor’s center.
“You know, Michael,” Maria began around a mouthful of her sandwich as she plopped down onto a bench beside him. “You’ve been awfully distracted today.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to notice.”
Maria sighed, pulling off a piece of bread crust and popping it into her mouth. “Listen, Michael, I shouldn’t have been so bitchy last night. I was exhausted, and-“
“You don’t need to make excuses, Maria,” Michael interrupted. “You’ve made it perfectly clear that my being on this trip is cramping your style-“
“Hold it, Spaceboy! I never said anything like-“
“You didn’t have to.”
“Michael! Will you just give me two minutes, please?” She paused, and he stared at her blankly. “That’s better. Okay, whether you want to believe it or not, I did want you to come on this trip. I mean, the four of them are both of our friends, and…God, Michael, we’re friends too. Even though it hasn’t really felt that way lately. I know you’re pissed at me, or whatever, but I think we’re both mature enough to be civil to one another for a week and a half.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay, fine,” Michael said, shrugging. “You’re right, we’re friends, and we can both be mature, and there’s no reason for us to get on each other’s cases.”
Maria tried to hide her surprise. “Right. That’s right,” she said, nodding firmly. “Well. Now that we got that settled, I’m going to just…go over here…and get some carrots now. You want anything?”
“Nah, I’m good,” Michael replied. “Thanks, though.”
“No problem.” Maria shook her head. That went too well. Something was definitely going on in that alien’s head.
*****
“We call the tent!” Isabel cried gleefully, skidding through the camper in an attempt to escape Jesse’s tickling fingers.
“Take it,” Max said quickly.
“It’s yours,” Liz spoke up at the same time.
“Please,” Michael emphasized, finally glancing up from his reading.
With a shriek, Isabel threw open the door and went into the night, Jesse hot on her heels.
“Well,” Maria said calmly after a long pause. “Anyone up for tarot cards?”
“Maria. You didn’t.”
Maria eyed her best friend innocently. “Well why not? They’re entertaining.”
Liz rolled her eyes in amusement. “You’re in the company of two aliens. I’d think that would be entertainment enough.”
“Right,” Maria scoffed, biting back a smart remark she knew would piss Michael off. Michael…who was clearly not listening anyway. “Well, whatever. We can save them for another time.”
Liz sank back into Max’s arms on the pile of blanket heaped in one corner, sliding beneath one. She eyed Michael curiously. “Michael? What are you doing?”
“W-huh?” He tore his eyes from the pad of legal paper he was scribbling furiously on.
“What are you doing?” she repeated.
“Oh. This?” He nodded toward the brochures and tour books at his feet. “Just…ah, researching a bit. You know, the Grand Canyon and stuff.”
“Ah.” Liz nodded, not especially impressed. “Iz better watch out, huh?”
Maria stretched her arms above her head, yawning widely. “Y’know, as kick ass as this little party is, I think I’m gonna hit the sack. I’ve gotta drive tomorrow, so…” She glanced at Michael quickly, then turned to Max and Liz. “G’night, guys. Oh,” she lowered her voice and winked at Liz. “Don’t let the semen bite.”
“Maria!” Liz gasped, her eyes widening as she flung a pillow at Maria’s retreating form, scampering to her sleeping bag at the other end of the RV.
“We’ll have none of that,” Michael confirmed, eyeing his friends snuggling nearby. “Behave, you two. You don’t have tent privileges tonight.”
Liz groaned. “You people. You act like all we ever do-“ She was cut off as she felt Max’s hand run up her thigh, and she gave him a stern look.
He grinned back at her, all innocence, and proceeded to slide one lone finger under the elastic of her panties. Liz jumped and quickly reached up to turn off the light in their corner of the camper. Tonight they’d have to play the quiet game.
*****
“Oh my god, we left Michael in Colorado!”
“You’re a riot, Maria,” Michael said dryly. He trudged over to Maria, Max, Liz, Jesse, and Isabel, who were spread out through Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
“That’s a good one,” Jesse chuckled. “I used to try to pull that one on my mom with my little brother. She never thought it was very funny, though.” He paused, grinning at his wife. “C’mere, I want a kiss from New Mexico.”
Isabel obliged, leaning over the state line with a grin. This was well worth the detour; she had no idea how giddy her husband would be about the whole Four Corners stop.
Max and Liz, however, stood hand in hand in Arizona, staring at the Utah state line dubiously.
“Fond memories, huh?” Liz glanced at Max with a wry smile.
“We might as well,” Max decided, squinting through the morning sunlight at the little plaque in the ground. “Welcome to Utah.” They stepped forward and turned to each other again.
“Well. That was therapeutic.” Liz surveyed the land before her. “Still no desire to spend extensive amounts of time here ever again.”
Max nodded. “I agree.” And with that, they headed back toward the RV parked in Colorado, with Maria close behind.
Michael stared after his friends. “I’m with them. Let’s get to the canyon already. Iz, you’re driving.” He tossed the keys to her.
“Jesus, Michael.” Isabel reached up one hand from Colorado just in time to grab the keys. “Give me a second, I’m kind of in the middle of being in four states right now.”
“Here, Michael, take our picture.” Jesse handed him the camera and took his place beside Isabel.
Michael sighed. At this rate they’d never get everybody into Arizona. “Say ‘nuts’.”
*****
“Maxwell, I really need to talk to you.”
Max looked up from mixing his Cherry Coke – Tabasco cocktail. “What’s up?”
Michael glanced over to Maria and Liz, who were in the middle of a conversation with Isabel and Jesse at the front of the RV. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of everybody, but I found something and I want to run it by you,” he continued in a hushed voice.
“Shoot,” Max replied, sitting down at the tiny booth table as he took a sip of his concoction.
Reaching into the front pocket of his backpack, Michael pulled out a folded map. “Isabel had this guide of the Grand Canyon with the rest of her stuff, and I started looking through it.”
“That interesting, huh?”
“No…well, yeah. Actually it is,” Michael pressed, spreading the map onto the table. “What does this look like to you?”
Max studied the map. “Uh…the north rim of the Grand Canyon?”
“Yes and no. Max, look at the rock formation illustrated here. Doesn’t it look like,” he lowered his voice, “doesn’t it look like the cave entrance?”
Turning the map around several times, Max squinted at it again. “No, but it does sort of look like your old haircut. You know, back in the day when you had it all spiked up and –“
“This isn’t funny, Maxwell.”
“I’m not laughing,” Max assured. His tone softened. “Listen, Michael. I just don’t think there’s any connection between whatever rock formation is at the canyon and the one at home. There’s nothing to be hunting around for. I mean, I learned that the hard way.”
Michael could feel his frustration about to boil over. Since when had Max become so self-righteous about this kind of thing? Hell, it had been less than a year since Max had been so determined to find any link to their past that he could. He was on a wild goose chase for a son that he hadn’t had any contact with since Tess left. That realization seemed to be the closure Max needed; to move on with his life here on Earth, to move on with Liz…and Michael, he had tried that, too. He didn’t regret for a minute his decision to stay here with Max and Isabel…and Maria…but his curiosity still got the best of him sometimes. No, there was definitely something strange about that rock formation – and Michael was going to find out what it was.
*****
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Isabel rolled her eyes toward the sky. “No, Michael, I’m not kidding you. I thought you knew we were staying in Flagstaff over night.”
“Flagstaff is not the Grand Canyon.”
“No, Michael, it’s not,” Isabel continued calmly. “If you’d paid attention to the itinerary, then you’d know-“
“Screw the itinerary!” Michael threw his hands up in the air in disgust. “You know something, Iz, sometimes-“
Max sighed, pulling himself from the picnic table. Time for some damage control. “But it’s only one day, right Iz?” he interrupted. “Which means bright and early tomorrow morning we’ll be on our way to the canyon and we’ll all be happy.” He shot a pointed look in Michael’s direction.
“Yes, Max, we’ll all be happy,” Isabel and Michael chorused in dry unison.
“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a sandwich to finish.”
Maria and Liz exchanged glances as Max made his way back to the table. “Since when does Michael care so much about the Grand Canyon?” Maria asked.
Max shrugged casually, taking another bite of the ham and cheese he’d thrown together. Offering no other information, he simply wrinkled his nose and reached for the bottle of Tabasco sauce.
“Well I don’t know about you guys, but I’m just happy we get an afternoon to check out Sunset Crater,” Liz said, grinning enthusiastically. Her eyes widened at the looks of exasperation from Max and Maria. “What?”
*****
“Okay, I am officially bored to tears,” Maria groaned to Michael as they lagged behind the other four. “Do you realize we have spent the last three hours looking at piles of ash?”
“Three hours and twenty seven minutes,” Michael corrected, placing his hands atop his head and sighing.
“Don’t remind me.” Maria shielded her eyes from the warm afternoon sun and gazed down the path at her best friend. “Those two completely floor me, you know? There’s our resident scientist, inspecting every crater as if it’s the most amazing thing she’s ever seen, and then there’s Max-“
“Who’s convinced himself he actually gives a damn,” Michael finished.
“Incredible.” Maria shook her head. “Enough of this. I need aqua. And some rose oil. This residual ash is clogging my sinuses.”
“Hey!” Michael called ahead. “We’re heading back to the Winnie.”
Jesse stifled a yawn as he tossed the keys to him, and they were on their way. “You coming too?” Maria asked casually as they began their hike back to the parking lot.
“Is that okay?” Michael could feel himself growing defensive.
“Well yeah. Wanna read some tarot cards?” Maria wiggled her eyebrows at him. “I’ve gotta find out if I can expect anything more out of my summer. Don’t get me wrong,” she continued quickly, “Not that this whole road trip deal wasn’t a good idea, but…come on. We’re spending a week checking out lava monuments with our friends, the nymphos.”
“What more could you ask for?” Michael asked incredulously, the mocking glint evident in his eyes.
Maria pulled open the RV door and stepped inside. “Let’s find out, shall we?”
Sitting down at the table, Michael rested his hands behind his head. “Do you really believe this stuff?”
“Do you believe in aliens?” Maria shot back. She pulled her tarot cards from their black suede pouch and placed them on the table.
Michael eyed her skeptically. “Don’t you have to, like, light some incense or put on a turban or something?”
“I’m not Miss Cleo, Michael. All you do is read the cards and match the image.”
“Oh. Of course.” He nodded knowingly. “So what’s in my cards, Madame Maria?”
“Hm. Well,” Maria began, spreading a line of cards on the table between them. “I’ve never really read anyone else’s cards before,” she admitted, glancing up at him. “Liz doesn’t humor me nearly enough. Okay,” she continued, clearing her throat. “Put your hands down on the table, with your fingertips on the edges of the cards.”
“You’re completely bullshitting this, aren’t you?”
“Shut up.” Maria silenced him by placing her hands atop his, closing her eyes and humming to herself.
Michael fought back the strong urge to laugh, seeing her look of deep concentration. Might as well humor her. Maria’s eyes flew open as she felt the prickling glow soaking into her hands from his. “Michael, cut it out!” she demanded.
He bit his lip sheepishly. “Sorry. So tempting,” he smirked.
Maria cursed under her breath as she flipped the first card in the stack over, placing it atop one on the table. She turned over the one next to it and investigated the sketchy symbols. “Hmm…”
“What does it say?” Michael asked, curiosity getting the best of him.
“It says you’re an ass,” she retorted, continuing to inspect the cards.
Michael sighed and sat back, waiting until her mood passed. After a few minutes of looking at the cards spread before her, Maria finally continued. “Looks like you’re about to discover something.”
His interest once again peaked, he leaned forward. “Discover something?”
“Yeah. See, this one,” Maria pointed to a card, “Indicates searching. And this one,” she slid her finger over, “Indicates a successful venture. But,” she continued, her eyes meeting his, “According to this one, it won’t come without sacrifice.”
Michael held her gaze for a long moment, and then shook his head. “This is such a bunch of crap,” he said quickly, trying to ignore the map that was poking him from his back pocket.
Maria rolled her eyes. “Fine. Whatever. You asked.” She collected her cards into a neat stack and slid them back into the pouch.
“Aren’t you gonna do yours?”
“Abducted by aliens,” she recited flatly.
*****
Max couldn’t see straight. His entire world was exploding around him, sparks of color that illuminated the otherwise dark night. The only sound that accompanied the burst of fireworks was the sound of his love, his Liz, gasping his name over and over. He crushed his lips to hers as he began to spill into her, muffling his low moan against her mouth. He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to stop; he pumped into her again and again as her tight walls milked every last drop from his body.
Liz’s gasp crescendoed into a long cry as her own release shook her body. They continued to move together, thrusting, clinging, panting, until Liz had soaked up the last of his seed and he slowly slid out of her body.
Neither broke their tight embrace; rather their fingers continued to explore; caressing one another, stroking backs and chests and faces as if they were searching one another out for the first time.
“I’ll miss you,” Max whispered suddenly, his voice thick with emotion.
Liz gazed up at him, touching his cheek. “And you know I’ll miss you.”
“I…I know we won’t be far away. USC and Stanford…they’re close. Closer than USC and Georgetown,” he ammended. “But…” he trailed one finger along Liz’s jaw. “Not…close enough.”
“We’ll see each other all the time,” Liz murmured. “Things will be different, Max. But…” Her lips sought out his in a searing kiss. “We’re connected. Nothing will change that.”
“Nothing.” He repeated his hushed vow with wide eyes, the emotion there clearly mirroring hers.
Liz’s gentle smile returned. “So serious,” she teased, pecking his nose in a soft kiss. Her hands began another exploration of his body, slowing as she reached his torso.
The low groan this attention provoked was just what Liz needed to start that tight warmth deep in her body. All thoughts of college, the future, being away from one another dissolved as Liz’s warm, wet lips began their descent down Max’s body. He squirmed beneath her ministrations, resisting the strong urge to thrust his hips as her mouth trailed lower.
Liz looked up with a lustful smile, one hand caressing his cheek while the other slid down to cup his sac. Max jerked against the sensation of her cool little hand, reaching up to cradle her face in his palms. Liz turned her head, capturing one of his fingers between her lips, and began a slow, deliberate sucking.
“Liz,” he groaned as the pressure on his finger increased. In a sure preview of what was to come, Liz ran her tongue in circles over his fingertip before consuming it again in the warm confines of her mouth. Her other hand proceeded to begin a long, fluid stroking of his erection. It was beginning to throw Max into overload, and he gasped as her mouth released his finger and began to travel down his chest.
The hard flesh jerked beneath Liz’s hand as her tongue bathed the skin around it. Finally, encouraged by the sound of Max hissing her name, she plunged her lips down onto this penis and began swirling her tongue along the head.
“Ah…god,” he cried, his hands reaching down to squeeze Liz’s shoulders. Tighter…quicker…the tempo of her mouth increased, leaving him groaning and writhing beneath her until she had him dangling on the edge of release. Max quickly reached down again and grabbed Liz under the arms, easing her up until he felt her damp center twitching over him. Liz sank down onto him, her folds quickly enveloping him into her body. His movement never ceased and she easily joined him, thrusting again and again, connecting their bodies in an exquisite unity.
Later, as Liz slept spooned against him on the blankets in the tent, Max ran one hand along the curve of her naked body and sighed into her hair. “Nothing will change this, love. Nothing.”
4
“Prepare to experience the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your lives!” Isabel declared, sweeping her arm dramatically as she rushed ahead of the rest of the group.
Max grabbed Liz’s hand as she hopped out of the RV and smiled winningly. “I don’t know about that,” he whispered seductively.
Liz blushed and returned his grin. “Down, boy.” They followed Isabel over the dusty ground and Max stopped short, his jaw falling slack. “Told you,” Liz smiled. “There’s nothing like it.”
Michael let out a low whistle as he, too, got his first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. About damn time, he thought to himself.
Maria rushed up behind Liz and grabbed her free arm. “Oh my god, Lizzie, isn’t this place amazing?” she gasped, her eyes wide as she tried to grasp the expanse of what was before her.
“It’s incredible,” Liz agreed. “It seems so much bigger than I remember. I guess you can’t get the full effect when you’re nine,” she remarked, referring to a family vacation years earlier.
Even Isabel was rendered speechless by the majestic beauty of the canyon. The bright blue sky provided a shocking backdrop for the deep canyon walls, painted as far as the eye could see. Jesse’s presence at her side seemed to break her from her daze, and she turned to him in awe. “Honey, get the camera.”
“Just a minute,” he chuckled, sliding his arm around her waist. “Just soak it all in here before you worry about getting it on film.”
Isabel paused. He was right, the photographs in her books and brochures couldn’t come close to doing justice to the real thing. A slow smile spread across her face and she gave her husband a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you,” she amended.
*****
Michael was going crazy. He was itching, literally itching, to get out of there. He had to get to the North Rim. Nope, no patience to run it by the Road Trip Nazi. The decision was made. He was going today.
Quietly, as to not wake Max, Liz, and Maria sleeping nearby, he slipped into his clothes and shoved a map, several brochures, and his own research into his backpack. Slinging it over his shoulder, he jotted a quick note to the group to say he’d be back before dinner and stepped out into the pre-dawn darkness. He glanced at the tent, which had been set up several yards from the camper, and noted with relief that all was still. The last thing he wanted was to hear some early morning nookie, and-
“Ooph,” he grunted, smacking right into something.
The something shrieked and raised its’ hands in defense. “Don’t touch me!”
Maria. Michael sighed. “It’s me.”
“Michael?” Maria squinted into the darkness. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“I had to pee. Not that it’s any business of yours,” Maria scoffed. “You almost gave me a heart attack. Seriously, what are you doing up?”
“Catching a bus.” He paused, knowing that wouldn’t be enough information for her. “I’m gonna check out the North Rim of the canyon, okay?”
Maria eyed him skeptically. “Why?”
“I’m curious. Not that it’s any business of yours,” he retorted. “Now if you’ll excuse me-“
“Can I come?”
What? Michael raked his hand through his hair, agitated. Why did Maria decide to take up an interest now? “Why?”
“I’m curious,” she shrugged. “Besides, Isabel mentioned riding donkeys or something today, and…ew. No thank you.”
“Fine,” he gave in, in no mood to argue with her. “Bus leaves in ten minutes.”
Maria glanced down at her pajama-clad body. “Kick ass. Give me two seconds to throw on some clothes and I’ll be right out.”
Two seconds. Right.
*****
Nine minutes and thirty seconds later, out of breath from running, Michael and Maria made their way onto the bus and surveyed the seating situation. For six o’clock in the morning, there sure were a lot of people with an interest in the North Rim. Spotting only two empty seats, one towards the front and one in the very back, Michael turned to Maria and gestured to the empty seat beside a scrawny middle-aged man with a scraggly mustache and large safari hat. “Ladies first,” he announced.
“Have a seat, doll,” the man wheezed, sizing Maria up and then patting the seat beside him with a gap-toothed grin.
“I hate you,” Maria hissed to Michael as she slid gingerly into the seat. Michael merely chuckled and made his way down the aisle, ignoring the daggers Maria was glaring into his back. He took the last empty seat, settling down beside an elderly woman who smiled at him cheerfully.
Michael quickly returned the smile, then leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.
“Hi there.”
Michael’s eyes snapped open again. “Hi.”
“I’m Mona. Mona Barkley,” the woman continued, extending her wrinkled hand. “And you’re…?”
“Ah, Michael Guerin,” he replied, unsuccessfully stifling a yawn.
“Well, Michael, you’re up awfully early for a tour.”
“I guess,” he said, hoping she would end the small talk and he could sneak in a nap during the two-hour drive from the South Rim.
The woman patted his knee. “Let me tell you, it’s worth it. You’re in for a real treat, Michael Guerin. My husband and I used to make the trip here from Yuma every summer. Oh, Herb’s gone now, but I still try to get up this way once a year just because it’s got so many lovely memories. Beautiful scenery, Michael, just beautiful.”
“That’s nice,” Michael said politely. “So, you’re familiar with the area?”
“Like the back of my hand.” Mona laughed uproariously, gesturing to the wrinkles and age spots that speckled her hand. “Though I suppose that’s getting to be unfamiliar territory these days. But yes, Michael, I know the place quite well.”
Michael looked at her thoughtfully for a moment and then dug into his backpack. “Maybe you could help me out with something,” he said, unfolding the worn map he’d been studying for the past several days. “I’ve never been here before, but I’m really curious about some different landmarks I researched.” He pointed to the area he had highlighted several times. “Do you know anything about the area between here and the Colorado River?”
Mona cocked her head and studied the map. “Well, now the tour really doesn’t include anything within the Kaibob Forest. I’d suggest looking into their visitor center and see if you can find more information there.”
“That’s not really what I’m looking for,” Michael admitted. “Actually…there’s a specific rock formation I’m curious about. Only I haven’t been able to find a name, just an illustration.”
Mona couldn’t help but smile at the young man’s interest. It was refreshing, if not surprising, to encounter a young person with so much interest in the geography of the Grand Canyon. “We’ll see what we can do for you, Michael.”
*****
Liz studied the handwritten note on the table. Michael’s scrawled writing explained that he was taking the bus up to the North Rim of the canyon for the day, and Maria had written “Me too” at the bottom of the scrap of paper. “Max, why did Michael go up there?” Moreover, why had Maria joined him?
Max shook his head, unsure whether to be angry or just exasperated at Michael’s actions. Hadn’t he told him there was no point in digging around for anything?
“Their loss,” Isabel announced. “We’ve got our tour down into the canyon on donkey-back this afternoon. Just like that old book. What was the donkey’s name? Sparky or something?”
Liz smiled politely and quickly excused herself, rummaging through her duffel bag. “Old clothes, old clothes,” she muttered under her breath. “This campsite better have washing machines.”
*****
“Don’t ever do that to me again!” Maria hissed to Michael as he approached her at the visitor’s center.
“Unpleasant ride?” Michael asked innocently, dodging Maria’s shove.
“The guy called me ‘doll’ the entire time, and told me if I was ever in the Tucson area he could provide me a bed. Provide me a bed!” she sputtered. “I feel so dirty!”
Mona, who was walking alongside Michael, listened to the exchange with a bemused smile on her face. “Is this your girlfriend, Michael?”
“No!” they both exclaimed in unison.
She nodded knowingly. “I see. Well, I hope you’re a patient one,” she said, winking at Maria knowingly. “This young man is on a mission.”
“You’re telling me,” Maria muttered with a roll of her eyes.
“Michael, I hope you find what it is you’re looking for,” Mona continued, turning to Michael and patting his arm. “I’ll be on my way, the tour’s about to start. It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”
“You too,” Michael said honestly. He watched as Mona made her way into the visitor’s center, winking at him over her shoulder.
“What a sweet old lady,” Maria mused. “Well, let’s go. Like she said, tour’s about to start.”
Michael took her arm and led her down the path, back behind the center. “Yeah, about that. We’re not taking the tour.”
“Why not?”
Reaching into his backpack, Michael pulled out a map and inspected their surroundings. “I’ll explain later.”
“You’ll explain later?” Maria repeated. “I don’t think so, buddy, you’ll explain right now!”
“Maria, keep your voice down. I just want to wait until the group leaves and then we can get started.”
Maria stared at him evenly. “This is about the rock formation, isn’t it?”
Michael’s eyes met hers in surprise. “What are you talking about?”
“I found your notes,” Maria admitted quietly, moving to sit down on a rock. “They fell out of your jacket pocket yesterday when you took it off at the canyon. I found them and put them back, but…I looked at them first.” She continued to look at Michael steadily, despite the anger that was now etched in his face. “Michael, I didn’t realize what it was at first, or…or how important it is to you. But…I want to help you find what it is you’re looking for.”
Michael’s face softened, but his expression remained guarded. “Why?”
“Because you’re my friend, Michael. You seem to think you’ve got to do this on your own, but I want to help you.”
“Not even Max was interested,” Michael scoffed.
“Listen, I know I’m not Max,” Maria continued, her voice growing defensive. “I’m sorry if I can’t be as big a help as he could-“
“That’s not what I meant, Maria,” Michael interrupted. “I – never mind. Thank you. But I’m warning you, I don’t even know exactly where to find this. I just…I have this feeling. And I know I’ll regret it if I don’t check it out.”
“I know what you mean,” Maria replied softly. She cleared her throat and clapped her hands together. “Okay. So. Where do we start?”
*****
“Michael. Not to be a pain in the ass, but I’m pretty sure we’ve been here. Like, two or three times.” Maria gritted her teeth, willing herself to remain patient. They’d been wandering around the park for hours, and not only were they not finding anything, they really hadn’t seen anyone for quite some time either.
“Maria. I’m on it.” Michael, too, squared his jaw as he surveyed the land around them. That particular cavern did look familiar, but then again, they all looked pretty similar. “Damnit,” he muttered under his breath. “I think…we need to go this way,” he nodded ahead of them toward a scrubby trail that extended from the main path they’d be following.
“Hey…Michael?” Maria ventured, trudging along beside him. “I know what we’re looking for, sort of. But…what’s the significance?”
He scrubbed his hand across his face and sighed. “At first I just thought it looked a lot like the cave entrance back at home. So I got curious, and I started looking through some of Isabel’s tour books. But they never give it a name, or any specific directions on getting to it. It’s just…sort of there, y’know?” Michael looked down into Maria’s blank stare. “Okay, don’t you think it’s strange that none of the books address it specifically? I mean, it’s this massive structure in comparison to some of the other formations around it, just like our cave.”
“So…you think there’s some kind of connection to this place and the cave. I understand that. That’s what you had jotted down in your notes. But where’s the mystery?”
Michael took a long swig from his water bottle. “The mystery,” he explained between gulps, “Is that this place has never actually been photographed.”
“WHAT?” Maria screeched. “Michael, you’re going on a wild goose chase for something you don’t even know exists?!” She balled her fists. “And I came with you?!”
“Christ, Maria,” Michael muttered, rubbing his ear. “No one forced you.”
“God, Michael, I thought you really had something,” she continued angrily. “I thought you had some sort of proof that there was something to be looking for-“
Michael glared at her. “You should know better than anyone that you don’t need proof just for something to exist.”
Ignoring him, Maria continued to rant. “No wonder Max wasn’t stupid enough to want any part of this, he - “ She trailed off then, realizing how hurtful those words would be to Michael. “I – I’m sorry,” she sighed, peering up at him. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Yeah you did.” Michael quickened his pace, making it difficult for Maria to keep up with him. “Don’t apologize when we both know did.”
“Damnit, Michael!” she exclaimed in frustration. “Will you just listen to me for a minute?”
Michael whirled around and stared her straight in the eye. “What, so I can hear another speech about how Max is right and I’m always wrong? Thanks, Maria, but I hear it all the time and I sure as hell don’t need it from you too.”
“You hear it all the time?” Maria repeated. “Michael, you’re not always wrong. You’re curious, and that’s okay. I mean, Max almost flunked out of school last fall when he picked up and went to LA. He followed his instinct and went for it…and he didn’t find what he was looking for. At least, not in the way he was expecting.” She paused, gingerly resting her hand on Michael’s arm. “What he found was that this is his home. No amount of searching would change that, because what he was looking for was here all along. And you…Michael, I don’t think you’ve come to terms with that for yourself.”
“What’s your point?” he asked gruffly, trying to relax his arm under her touch.
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t be curious. I just…it’s so hard to see you always searching for something better. It’s hard to realize that this place – that we – aren’t good enough for you.”
“And I’m the selfish one,” Michael spat out bitterly. He yanked his arm from her grip and turned back to the trail without another word.