Title: Concrete Angle
Author: Amy Hugh
Disclaimer: I don't own them, songs by Martina McBride. The song has been changed a little to fit the story.
Summary: Amy starts dating a guy that's abusive to Maria.
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Maria laid in bed holding a bag of ice up to her bruised face. She couldn't believe that her life had changed so much in the last few weeks. Her mom, Amy, had started seeing this guy and he was physically hurting her. She finally understood exactly how Michael felt. Amy didn't know that Steve was abusing her but Maria was too stubborn and had too much pride to tell Amy. She tried telling her that he was no good for her but no matter what she said Amy wouldn't leave him.
*Two weeks ago*
It all started two weeks ago. Steve and Amy had been dating for about a month now. Steve had moved in and Maria wasn't really happy about that but she put a smile on her face for her mom's sack. She knew that Amy loved him and wanted to be with him. Maria know the feeling well, she felt the same way about Michael. Everything was fine for awhile.
One day when Maria came home from school she found that her mom was still at work but Steve was setting on the couch with bottles of beers around him. "Could you not get drunk in this house," Maria asked kindly. Steve smiled, "umm…let me think about it," he got up and walked over to Maria. "No! I'll do what I want to do." "I don't think so pal," Maria snapped back. Before she could react his hand made contact with her face and she fell to the floor. Steve undid the belt of his pants and raised his arm bringing it down on Maria. Tears spring up in Maria's eyes and she grounded them out with her hand. She wouldn't him get the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Maria just stayed on the floor taking the beating as he brought the belt down on her again and again.
That night she laid in her bed crying. She had locked the door to her bedroom and tried to laid as still as she could. The telephone rang and Maria wincing in pain as she reaches to the phone on the bedside table. "Hello," Maria said.
"Maria. Its Liz."
"Hey," Maria replied.
"What's wrong Mars? Is it Michael?"
It was a known fact that the humans where having trouble dealing with the whole density thing. Maria long to be in Michael's arms again. She felt safe when she was with him and she understood that he was scared he'd hurt her but Maria trusted him 100 percent. "If only he could understand that," she said to herself.
"Maria?"
"Oh sorry. Yeah it's just I miss Michael," Maria said half in truth and half in lie.
"How about some Ben and Jerry's?"
Maria looked down and could see bruises appearing on her arms and stomach.
"I got homework," Maria lied. "But hey how about tomorrow?"
"Deal," Liz replied.
"Ok see ya at school Lizzie."
"Ok bye."
Maria slowing put the phone back on the hook. Finally was able to fall asleep.
The next morning she groaned and shut off her alarm clock and got out of bed. She went into the bathroom and got into the shower. She winced as the water hit her body. Maria looked down and saw black and blue bruises covering her stomach. She had already seen the marks on her arms but they weren't as bad but realized that she would have to cover them before she lefted for school.
Maria looked through all her draws and couldn't find anything that would cover the bruises except for the dress she had worn yesterday. She sighted and put it on with as less pain as she could. She walked down stairs and saw her mom and Steve at the breakfast table. "Oh Maria, I need the car today. Do you mind?" Amy asked. "No that's ok. I'll just walk to school," Maria replied. "Are you sure?" Amy asked. "Yeah no prob." Maria made herself lunch and head out the door. "Bye," Maria said.
As Maria walked her mind was on Michael. She wished she could go back to the days before Michael found out about his density. She just wished she could be with him but he didn't belong to her now. Maria then realized that he had never really belonged to her. He belonged to Isabell now and no matter how much she tried she couldn't hate them. Isabell had become like a sister to her and Michael was the guy of her dreams. True Michael wasn't the world's best boyfriend but through all the fights all she saw loneness. She knew he needed someone to love him for who he was and not just because he was like Max and Isabell. Hank screwed him up over the years of abuse. Michael had trouble believing in unconditional love but she showed him. Maria laughed to herself, "And look where it's gotten you?" "Maybe because I love you to much," Maria remember his exact words and the her heart breaking as he walked off.
Maria was so deep in to her thoughts that when she looked up she saw that she was at school. She opened the door and went to her locker. She spotted Max, Isabell, Tess, and Michael talking across the hall. "Hey," Maria glanced behind her. "Hey," Maria said in return to Alex and Liz. She grabbed her books and put her lunch in her locker and slammed it shut.
"She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holdin' back
Wearin' the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with linen and lace"
"Well somebody's pissed," Alex said jokingly. Maria turned around and glared at Alex but couldn't keep the smile back. Maria could fell Michael's eyes on her but ignored it. "So ready for the Biology test today?" Liz asked her. Maria groaned she completely forgotten. Liz smile knowing Maria had forgotten. "No," Maria sighed, "Let me guess, your going to pass with flying colors though. Right?" Maria smiled as Liz blushed. Liz dissided to change the subject. "So are we still up for a little Ben and Jerry?" Liz asked both Alex and Maria. "You can count me in," Maria replied. "Me too," Alex said.
The bell rang signally first period was about to started. Maria, Liz, and Alex started down the hall to Biology. Maria glanced at Michael as she passed and vise versa. When they got in class Liz sat in the front with Max, her lab partner. Maria felt for Liz, She know how she felt. "This density thing sucks! It's messing us all up!" Maria said to herself. Her and Alex sat down at their lab table.
The next week had been about the same but the bruises where slowly getting worse. It was Friday and she had big black, blue, and yellow bruises from her chest to her thighs. She had started wearing sweat pants and long sleeve T-shirts rather then cloths that where tights and showed her stomach, arms, and legs.
She winced as she set down in third period. The teach watch as Maria set down and wonder if something had happen but the she put the thought out of her head. Maria saw the teacher looking at her funny but she just ignored the look.
"The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she was never born"
The teacher was talking about something but Maria didn't care to pay attention. She was just hoping that this day would hurry up and be over. She watched the clock and it seemed to be moving so slow. Finally the bell sounded.
Maria walked to her next class when someone reached out and grabbed her. She was pulled into a room and the door slammed close behind her. "Ooooooooooutch!" Maria screamed pulling her arm out of Michael's grasped. "What?" Michael asked knowing he wasn't grabbing her that hard. "Nothing. Nevermind," Maria said, "What did you want?"
Michael just looked at her not really knowing what to say. Maria shook her head and reached to open the door. "I'm sorry," Michael said softly but Maria heard the words. Maria crossed her arms across her chest and sighed. "You have two minutes." Michael didn't say anything for a minute but then started talking. "These last few months have been like hell. I may belong with Isabell and may love her but…," Maria felt like she had been punch in the gut. "You know I could have lived without knowing that. Goodbye Michael,"
"Wait!," Michael said, "You didn't give me a chance to finish I do love her but only as a sister. She can't be you." Michael moved closer to Maria and cupped Maria's face in his hands and made her look into his eyes. "I love you." "What about your density Michael," Maria asked. "I don't care about my density. I don't care that Nesado ordered us to stay away from you guys. I love you and I want to be with you. I can't promise you forever but I can promise you now." Maria smiled as a tear ran down her face. "What happened to my Michael because his diffidently not that sweet?" Maria joked. "I'm still the same person. Look I have to make something clear before you say anything. Can't be with you if Max, Izzy, Tess, or Nesado's around though. Nesado said that we had to stay away or he'd kill us," Michael said. Maria gasped knowing the Nesado wouldn't even think a second before killing.
"Michael I don't know. I mean I don't want anything to happen to you. So maybe it would be best if we didn't start this," Maria replied. "Fuck Nesado! I want to be with you," Michael said. Maria smiled and brushed her lips with his. Michael's eyes opened for a mere moment before they closed again and he completely took her mouth in an impassioned kiss. When they pulled back Maria said, "God, we can't get caught!"
TBC...