Maria's P.O.V
Hey M,
Just to let you know that I'm staying with Jed for the night if you know what I mean ;)
So yeah sorry girl but I'll see you later tomorrow well...
might as well make a weekend of it actually so yeah I'll see ya soon!
Don't go throwing no parties while I'm gone!
Love ya!
Rox ♥

As if I'd throw a party, I thought.

Sometimes I really don't like girls, it's all about boyfriends with them. I sighed, maybe I was just being jealous.

I slumped onto her sofa ready for the evening alone, I switched on the news on the TV. I wondered if there would be any coverage on Michael's tour, apparently it wouldn't finish until December now, but there was nothing at all.
It was starting to get a little strange, almost as if he was avoiding going back on tour.

Clunk.

My head turned to the sound of mail being posted through the letter box. I got up so I could put it away for Roxanne to read later.
When I picked it up, I noticed that the small, classy envelope wasn't addressed to the owner of the house at all. There, in beautifully scruffy handwriting was Miss Rose. That was me! In a state of shock, I ripped it open and read:

Dear Maria,
first I would like to apologise for not being able to talk to you properly today at the hospital. I just wanted you to be safe, I couldn't risk people finding out about us.

'Us'? I thought. What was that supposed to mean? I carried on reading, my heart thumping in my chest the whole time.

Second, I just wanted you to know I posted this myself and by the time you read this, I will be sitting in my car at the bottom of the road, where I dropped you off before. I understand if you don't want to talk
I will wait for you for a while but if you don't come and see me I won't bother you anymore.
Thank you for everything, for letting me find my voice again, you are very dear to me
Love, Michael

I couldn't believe what I had just read. I dropped the note immediately and left the house, fumbling for my keys to lock up behind me. Thank goodness Roxanne had given me her spare.

I set off down the road and suddenly started to worry. Did I look okay? I hadn't checked in the mirror before I left. What if he had gone already? I didn't want to lose him, I couldn't.

I spotted car lights at the junction of the street, and my heart fluttered. I was so nervous. I couldn't believe he had come all this way and went to all that trouble just for me, who was I to deserve his kindness?

I stopped when the car was in full view, squinting at the lights. They turned off and a car door opened. The streetlight wasn't working on this side of the street so I couldn't see much, but his familiar figure was undeniable. He really was here. I heard his voice cut through the retreating dusk, getting closer to where I was standing.

"Maria, I'm so sorry I- I'm so happy to see you. I didn't think you'd come, I thought I had made you mad"

There was a seriousness in his tone, his light voice lit me up like a flame, how long had it been since I last saw him? A few hours? It seemed like years.

"Are you serious? I thought I was the one who made you angry, I didn't mean to say what I did, I was just making sure you knew that I wasn't going to tell anybody about... um... us. I thought you had taken it the wrong way, I don't want to pretend it never happened... oh Michael, I'm so stupid, I guess I wasn't thinking about what I was saying, I always stumble over my words when I'm nervous you know? I hate it, I always end up saying the wrong thing in the heat of the moment I'm so sor-"

My rambling was interrupted when I was suddenly pulled into an embrace. He was holding me tight, I could hear his heart beat, and my goodness he smelt good, I could have stayed like that forever.
I felt him shake slightly, laughing at how we had completely misunderstood each other. I looked up at him, his eyes were sparkling as the sun slowly disappeared. The nights were drawing in as the summer months were coming to an end.

"I make you nervous?" He chuckled lightly.
"I-I err, yeah, a lot actually, I thought it was pretty obvious... that's what usually happens when you lo-like somebody, isn't it?"
I felt his heart quicken when I nearly said "love". Was it too soon for that? I wasn't even completely sure what this was.
I pulled away and looked at him, but he was nothing other than a silhouette now, I wanted to make sure this was all real, I wanted to see him in light.

"So... now we're here and we are finally able to get five minutes peace, what is it you had in mind when you came driving over here?"
"Well, I guess I hadn't thought that far..."

Was he really so unprepared because he thought I wasn't going to see him? I felt really bad.

"You could come back to Roxanne's for a while, she's 'out' at the moment, she won't be back until Monday"
I felt him staring at me intently, making me fidget.
"She just left you here on your own?" I hadn't thought about this, but yes I guess she had. I wasn't sure what to think about that.

"I guess so. But you're here now right? I was just going to watch TV or something so it won't be very interesting..."
"That sounds perfect, don't look at me like that! It is perfect. You know I never really get the chance to just laze around, I don't want excitement, I want normal. Why does everyone think I want something sensational all the time? I'm not difficult to please, unless it's my work. We could watch a movie, do you have any horror?"
I smiled and nodded at him. His voice was so excited, like a little kid, I had never been so positive about a night in before.

We entered the large apartment and I hung up Michael's jacket. When I turned around, he was holding his letter in his hand.

"Do you always chuck your love letters on the ground?"
We looked at each other for a long time until we both burst into laughter.

This was going to be the most perfect evening of my life, I could tell.

*