Seeing Me

Seeing Me

He had really seen her. She had somehow gotten past her own fake persona, and let him in. For a moment she felt real happiness and then her hopes felain ain as she realized that Michael had NOT been open. Well, she could at least continue to be honest with him.


"I didn't care about the stupid flashes." She looked over at him briefly before lowering her gaze to the floor again. She gripped the back of her own neck, elbows resting on his knees. "I just wanted us to be close." She waited for the sarcastic remark that was sure to come.


He leaned forward a little, moving over to sit next to her on the couch. A little startled, she twitched slightly as his arm came to rest warmly across her shoulders. He squeezed her gently, leaning in to kiss her on the temple. "Thanks."


She snuck her head into the curve of his neck, reveling in the unexpected and uncharacteristic tenderness.


They sat like that for endless moments, finally leaning back against the couch. Lack of sleep and comfortable warmth drew them, to drift off into a dreamless sleep.


Several hours later, Maria woke refreshed and oddly content. Moving her head slightly, she gazed at the boy who had such a hold on her heart.


The two of them had somehow managed to slide down the couch, until they were curled together, Michael on his side, she on her back. It was a perfect opportunity to study him.


Maria had always heard about how different some people could look while asleep. He was a very good example of this. In fact, she was looking at someone she'd never met, except for the night he'd left home. (something she'd NEVER forget) The hard edge was gone from his face, and she couldn't remember ever seeing him relaxed before. His beautiful mouth was soft, drawing her gaze, and then her fingers.


She almost touched his lips before catching herself. Did he know how incredibly sexy his mouth was? Just looking at him made her belly feel funny. Her gaze wandered up to his eyes, where she found him watching her back.


The look in Michael's eyes was warmer than it had ever been. As if the sharing they'd done earlier had brought them a little closer. She hoped that was true. Her longing for him had been the cause of it all.


Of course, the fact that he'd obviously WANTED to make out with her couldn't be discounted. Smiling to herself, she experienced again the rush of feeling she got while kissing him. Talent. That's what it was.


Her chin was suddenly turned by large fingers, bringing her lips to his. Maria's stomach did a flip-flop, her hands came up to his chest, and her brain shut down for a moment. God, he could kiss! His mouth moved over her's gently, his warm breath sweet in her nostrils.


He pulled slowly away, watching her lashes flutter against her cheeks.


"What was that for?" She sounded breathless, a little out of it.


"Just had to." His voice was husky from sleep and maybe, something else. "You were looking at me, and I had to." Was that a question in his tone? "What were you thinking about?"


She blushed deeply, her eyes shying away from his intensity. She'd never felt shy or embarrassed before, and it was strange. Only Michael could do this to her.


"I like your mouth. You're a good kisser. No, a great kisser." She looked at his lips again, wishing he would do it again. She'd developed this delicious tingle down deep, which she'd love to explore


Michael was caught off guard. It had never occurred to him that she would say such a thing. There was no it cit could be true, as she was the only one he'd ever kissed!


He watched her eyes as they alighted on his mouth again. She flushed,triltrils flaring, her little pink tonguippiipping out to moisten her own lips. He felt his cock twitch at her proprietary air. She wanted another kiss, and he was gonna give it to her.


Closing the distance between them, he captured her mouth in a searing kiss. There was none of the frantic movement characterized their makeout sessions. This was a long, slow exploration of each other's mouth. For several minutes they were caught up in it, until finally having to stop for air.
Maria opened her eyes and stared at him in amazement.


"What?" Michael's voice was rough and low.


"I saw me." She sounded almost unbelieving; as if what she'd seen was too far-fetched. "Do you do you really see me like that?"


I half-smile curved Michael's lips as he realized what she'd finally glimpsed within him. Strangely, he wasn't bothered by the fact that she had seen his most private feelings/thoughts. He smoothed his thumb along her jaw line, losing himself in her eyes for a moment.


"What did you see?" was his soft question.


Maria was suddenly embarrassed again. She looked away from him even as she thrilled at what she'd seen, and FELT. She wasn't sure she could tell him about it, but if she didn't she'd never be sure if it was really a vision. Gathering herself, she looked him in the eye.


"We were in the eraser room." Her voice became even more breathy, if that was possible. Color crept up her neck to her face, her eyes growing liquid. "You, you LIKED my babbling. You wanted me." She sounded amazed.


He refused to look away from her, even though he wanted to. He was no coward. And he he wanted her to know. Regardless of the fact that he was supposed to be a stone wall, he WANTED Maria. It was true.


"Yeah. I did. I do." Which was the most he ever admitted to his life.


He was stunned to see her face fall. Her eyes drifted shut, and a tear escaped to slip down her cheek and pool in her ear. She turned away from him and sat up, rising from their warm cuddle to cross the room.


"Maria?" The chill of the room crept into his now empty arms. "Maria." He watched in confusion as she opened the door and left the apartmen

As she got ready for work, Maria reflected sadly on her life. As hard as she'd tried, she hadn't been able to make him love her. And it hurt more than she could handle. She told herself he was just another in a long line of males who didn't love her, but she knew he was different. Because she'd fallen in love with him. Never before had she allowed herself to feel for a guy, especially one who she wasn't even dating. But they had connected on such a deep level, had so much in common, that she'd truly believed he was the one to understand her, and get past her many defenses. Which he had. Without loving her.


Maria sighed as she closed her locker, and went through the door into the diningroom of the Crashdown.


Michael watched her surreptitiously through the window the diner, wondering what he should do. He still had no idea what had caused Maria's sudden mood change and exit, but he was determined to find out. The look on her face was tearing him up. Almost as if she were grieving. He wanted nothing more than to wipe those terrible feelings away and put another smile on her beautiful face.


"So you're spying on her now?" He turned to see Isabel, amusement on her pretty face.


He didn't waste words. "There's something wrong with Maria."


Her look changed to concern as he filled her in on what had happened, editing out the really embarrassing content. "And she left the apartment without a word. I have no idea what happened." This was clo closest he'd ever come to losing control of his emotions. Aside from that night in Maria's bedroom.


"Do you want me to talk to her? I mean, just feel her out about what's bothering her?" Isabel's concern was evident for her new friend.


Michael nodded slightly, and watched as she entered the diner, taking a seat in Maria's section. He felt a little guilty about not talking to the girl directly, but he was a little afraid of finding out what had caused all of this. I mean, he'd just opened his heart to her, and rejection would just kill him. With a last stolen look through the glass, he turned to head back home. To wait.


Isabel was shocked at Maria's state. Gone was the bouncy, bubbly, drama queen of yesterday. Today's girl was like a cheap facsimile, with her dead eyes and lifeless gestures. It was as if the real Maria had vacated this shell of a person.


"What can I get you?" Isabel could hardly recognize this girl. Even her voice was flat.


"Have you had your break yet? I thought you might like some company." Iz tried to sound as cheerful as possible, hoping she could draw the girl out.


The blonde waitress shrugged, and slid into the booth. She sat there quietly, staring at the tabletop.
"Maria, what's wrong? You look like you lost your best friend." Why beat around the bush, when she had the girl sitting in front of her? She saw something out of the corner of her eye, and ged oed over to see another drop of water pool on the table with the first one. The girl was crying.


Without raising her eyes, Maria spoke. "Michael and I connected." There was no emotion in her words.


"Youn, hn, he was open to you?" It wasn't hard to sound surprised. Michael hadn't let Iz connect to him in all the time they'd known each other.


"Yeah. I saw him." She wouldn't have thought it possible, but the human girl's voice was even deader. "I wish I hadn't though."


Ah, now we're getting somewhere "Why, what did you see that was so bad? I mean, Michael's not someone I would expect great mental images from anyway." She had to steer this in the right direction, so Maria could come to her own conclusions. Isabel had a feeling she knew what the problem was.


Maria slowly raised her eyes to the other girl's. Normally Iz would be the last person she'd talk to about this stuff, but she felt so bad it really didn't matter. Iz could laugh in her face and it wouldn't hurt any worse.


"He doesn't love me." For just a moment the alien thought the girl's voice would break. Maria went back to staring at the table, and Isabel was glad. She didn't think she could stand gazing into her agonized eyes any longer.


"Maria, I don't know what happened between you two, but I CAN tell you this Michael cares about you. A lot. He just doesn't know how to express it." She reached over to grip Maria's chin for a moment. "You have to understand that he's never known love and affection, except from Max and me. I'm not sure he'd recognize it if he felt it, and he might run if he DID." There was affection in Izzy's voice for her almost-brother. "You really need to give him some more time to learn. Or aren't you willing to teach him?" She grinned at the diminutive girl.


Maria stirred from her depression. She hadn't considered any of this before, she'd just done a "Maria" and jumped to conclusions. Isabel made perfect sense, and she knew an apology to Michael was in order.


Standing up and moving to quickly hug the alien girl, she pulled her order pad back out of her apron pocket. "Thanks, Iz. I'll talk to him."


Isabel was glad to see a little color back in the girl's cheeks. She smiled and ordered lunch.


The knock he'd been waiting for came late that evening. He opened the door, only to find no one there. He stuck his head out in the hallway, catching sight of Maria leaning against the wall a few feet from his door. He stepped out of the apartment, moving to stand in front of her.


"Hey." He jammed his hands in his pickets, fixing his gaze on her face. She wasn't looking at him. Instead, her eyes roamed the hallway, never resting on the object of her thoughts.


"Hey." There was a long pause while she continued to look anywhere but at him. He became impatient, and reached out to gently place his palm against her cheek.


"Maria, what's going on?" Rather than tilt her face up, he leaned down to her level, bringing himself in line with her eyes. Catching her gaze finally, he was surprised to find real fear there. Fear of him?! "Maria?!"


His raised voice made her jump. She watched him walk frustratedly back to his door. He turned and asked, "You coming?" before stalking in. Sighing, she followed him, entering the apartment to find him standing stiffly in the middle of the room.


She began, "What I felt when we connected it wasn't what I wanted." Her body started a subtle shaking, as she continued. "Not that it wasn't all good, great in fact. But I was hoping for a little emotional involvement. It disappointed me, because I'm emotionally involved." She was trembling so hard now; she had to go sit down on the couch. The same couch where she had been happy just yesterday.


Michael was confused. What had he said to her yesterday morning? He approached her slowly, scratching the back of his head. Sitting down next to her, he noticed her trembling. Not knowing what else to do, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap.


"Calm down. You're freaking out again."


She snorted at the remark, but didn't disagree with him.


He put his lips to her ear, and said clearly, "I've never told anyone I loved them." She didn't move, so he continued, "Isabel is the only person who's ever said it to me, and so I haven't had a whole lot of expere wie with these kind of feelings." Her arms slipped around his waist, but she still didn't speak. "I do want you Maria, and for me, it's the same thing." There, he'd said it.


Her head slowly came up from where she'd rested it on his shoulder. She was no longer shaking, but she still hanervnervous look about her. Looking him in the eye, voluntarily, for the first time, she asked, "What does that mean? That for you, it means the same thing?"


He ran his hand up her back to rest under her hair, on the nape of her neck. "It means that I AM emotionally involved, with you." At that he pulled her in for a kiss, giving only gentle pressure. Her lips were warm, and she smelled faintly of shampoo and soap.


Maria enjoyed it for a few long moments, and then pulled away to look at him again. "Then when you connected with me and I felt you (she blushed) wanting me what was that?" He could see the hope hidden in her heart.


Michael kissed her lightly again. "It means that those feelings are indelibly entertwined with one another, and I can't have one without the other. I don't know how."


Her hands came to rest on his broad shoulders, then her fingers slipped under the neckline of his T-shirt, splaying out for great skin contact. "So you feel for me, as well as FEEL for me?" Her eyebrows jiggled comically, and he snorted. "Is that a yes?"
"Yes. That's all I can give you right now. But stick around" His hands f the their way under her shirt, and he caressed her back.
Her Her eyelids came down to half-mast, her lips parted, her body warmed. "Plan on it," she breathed. Her lips met his again, but this time with a hunger that he hadn't seen before. Her hands were suddenly holding his face as she devoured his mouth.


His hands shoved her shirt higher; grasping for more skin as their kisses grew more heated. She raised her arms and he pulled the cloth over her head, only letting go of her lips for a moment. Throwing her shirt into the corner, he brought his hands back to her body, sliding them around to cup her full breasts. She was wearing a red satin bra, and he rubbed his thumbs across the peaks, eliciting a gasp from Maria.


Their kisses grew a little more frantic, lips and tongues meeting in heated exchanges.


Maria stood to change position on Michael's lap, straddling him and shoving him against the back of the couch. She pushed hhirthirt higher, diving down to lick his chest hungrily. He simply watched for a moment, enjoying the sight. His erection grew stiffer with every touch of her mouth upon his skin.
Groaning, he took her by the shoulders and flipped her over on the couch. She continued to stroke his arms and chest as he attacked the fly of her jean shorts. Once he had the undone, he slid them off and threw them into the growing pile in the corner.


Stopping to add his own shorts to the pile, he turned back to stare in happy lust at Maria, in only red satin bra and panties. Nothing could be more erotic.


Maria's small hand wrapped itself around his cloth-covered cock, causing him to almost double over in pain. He gently removed her hand, and rid himself of the boxers. Before he could settle back down, she had her warm fingers around it again, this time leaning over to take the head in her mouth.
Michael's legs almost collapsed. He carefully moved them to a better position, so he could sit down for this. With one hand she held him firmly around the base of his erection, the other exploring his legs and torso, running fingers through his pubic hair and gently squeezing his sack.


Moaning in delight, he looked for ways to return the pleasure she was giving him. The girl was kneeling on the couch beside him, so he slid his hand down her body to cup an ass cheek. Her satin panties moved silkily over her skin as he hooked a finger in the waistband, and pulled them down. Now he could see the soft white globes of her ass, and the wet, pink slit between them.


Maria was vigorously licking and sucking him now, and he had to stop his own exploration for just a moment, as a wave of pleasure took him over. He ran the fingers of his other hand through her soft hair. "God Maria" he gasped out.


Michael focused a little more on Maria's backside, slipping his long fingers down her crack to find her hot, wet center. He was gratified to find her incredibly liquid, her desire almost dripping down her thighs. She gasped around his cock as he slid a finger, and then another, into her opening, squirming as she still sucked him. He turned his hand so that he could angle his thumb against her clit. He could feel how close he was to his release, and would try to bring her with him.


And then there was only mindless feeling for a while, as they both gaveasurasure, and received it.


Maria's hand pumped his shaft as she sucked and caressed the sensitive head with her mouth, Michael's hips thrusting up as he began to find his release.


Michael's fingers moved in and out of her heat, her silky liquid running down his hand, his b rub rubbing her clit until her hips swiveled of their own accord.


They both uttered cries of animal intensity, working each other faster and hotter, until suddenly Michael went off in her mouth. His body bucked lightly, his head falling back on the couch as Maria did her best to finish him, her own orgasm creeping up just as she swallowed the last bit of his seed.
Through the haze of his joy, Michael desperately continued to stroke Maria. She was beautiful in her need. His cock slipped from between her lips, her head hanging down as she concentrated on the activity at the juncture of her thighs. On hands and knees beside him on the couch, she mewled at his caresses; hips moving as his fingers loved her. With his other hand, he slipped the bra strap off her near shoulder, freeing her breast to bob against the palm of his hand. He took the rosy peak in his fingers, rubbing it gently as his other hand stroked her faster.


Her body stiffened, and she cried out as her orgasm exploded over her. Michael pulled her close to his chest and held her until she stopped trembling. She leaned back to look up at him, smiling tenderly.


"Plan on it."


THE END