Maria's stomach leaped. Did he know? How could he? "What?" she gasped.

"The aliens, the ones that take the women. Least, that's what they say. You shouldn't be out alone," he said.

Maria felt her stomach start to work its way back down from her chest. "I'll be careful," she said, pushing her way into the office. Inside, she saw a blond girl behind a desk. The girl looked up and gave her a tight smile. She also looked Maria over carefully.

"Hi," Maria said. "I'm looking for Kyle.”

Then the girl gave her a smile that Maria instantly didn't trust. "Oh, he's in the garage. Are you his girlfriend?”

Maria was taken aback for a moment by the directness of the question. "Um, I'm a friend of his. I brought his lunch," she said, holding up one of the bags. "Can I get in through there?" She pointed to the door in the rear of the office.

"You sure can," the girl said, through the same tight smile.

Maria headed for the door. "Okay then, bye," Maria said.

"Bye-bye," the girl trilled, and though Maria couldn't see her anymore, she was sure the girl was wearing the same smile as she said it.

She came out into the large garage, scanning it for Kyle. Seeing the owner, Maria walked right over to him and pulled a food container out of the bag she carried.

"Hi," she said, holding out the Styrofoam box. "Meat loaf with gravy, no mushrooms. Bell said it was your usual.”

He looked at her, confused for a moment.

"It's our way of saying thanks for the shower and oat- meal this morning," Maria said, handing him the food.

Then recognition bloomed on Dan's face, and then he did something Maria didn't expect: He smiled. "Thank you," he said.

"Is Kyle around?" she asked. The question was just out of her lips when Kyle appeared next to her.

"Hey," Kyle said.

"Lunchtime," Maria said.

"Why don't you take a break," Dan said, the ghost of the smile still on his lips.

Kyle came with her around back. They guys weren't in the van, so they tried the room in the back. Before they entered, they heard laughter from inside. Opening the door, they found Michael, Max, and Isabel sitting on the floor huddled around an ancient board game.

"You're going down," Michael said to Max.

Maria leaned down and saw which game it was: Chutes and Ladders.

Perfect, she thought.

At the three aliens looked up, Maria frowned and said, "I'm glad that while we mere mortals are busting our butts, you guys are making yourselves useful.”

Max and Michael started to get up.

"Maria…," Max started.

She shook her head. "It's okay. Somebody should be having fun today. Lunch is served," she said, handing out the food.

"Can you stay and eat with us?" Michael asked. "You can get into the game if you want," he added.

"I have time to eat," Maria said, sitting on the side of the bed. She had brought something for herself, anyway.

"Where's Liz?" Max asked.

"She's back at the diner, brooding. I think she's been spending too much time with you," she said.

Concern immediately ran over Max's features.

"She's fine," Maria said quickly. "You guys should come by for dinner at the end of the rush, six thirty or so.”

Then Maria took out her own food. She was glad to sit, and even gladder to not have to go back outside alone to face the aliens or whatever it was that had the whole town (and now her) spooked.

On the other hand, as Michael dug into his burger, she realized she had an alien of her own to protect her.

come on, Space Boy, you're walking me back," Maria said.

Michael fought an urge to snap back at her for giving him an order. "Okay," he said, standing up.

Maria shot him a look of surprise, and that made the effort of holding his tongue worth it.

"Ready to go?" he said, grinning at her.

He enjoyed the slightly confused look on her face as she got up off the floor. "Sure," she said.

He nodded to Max and the others, and then he and Maria were out the door and headed for town.

He noticed that she seemed nervous as they walked along the open field that separated the edge of Main Street from the garage. She looked over her shoulder at least five times as they crossed the short distance.

"You know, this is the first time we've been alone since we left," he said.

"What?" she said, clearly distracted.

"I said, this is the first time… ”

"Michael, there's something strange going on in this town," she said, as if he hadn't spoken.

"Right here, in fact," Michael said, not even trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

"Michael, I'm serious. Haven't you seen those missing- person posters in town? It's creepy.”

"Well, we're not going to be staying long," Michael said.

"I ran into Gomer, and he said something about aliens, like the girls were abducted by… ”

"Here we go," he said, shaking his head.

"I know it sounds stupid," she said.

"That's because it is stupid," he said, raising his voice. He was angry now… more at himself than at Maria. He hadn't wanted to fight with her. As they drove in the van and the miles sped by, Michael had found the earliest stir- rings of peace on the road. He had hoped that things would be different for him and Maria. As they drover far- ther away from Roswell and the pressure they had always been under, he had felt sure that things would be different. He would make them different.

But why did she have to drive him so crazy? "So you're saying I'm stupid?" she said.

By sheer force of will, he kept himself from saying any more.

"Then what…," she started, her own face scrunched and angry.

"Stop," he said, raising one hand. "Look, I'm sorry.”

That seemed to stop her cold. Michael saw that they were getting close to the diner. He didn't want to spend the few seconds they had fighting.

"What?" she said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest that you're stupid. I'm just saying that the only aliens you're going to find in this town are the ones you brought with you. We need to be careful, but we left all that stuff behind in Roswell. That was the point of this class trip," Michael said.

Maria looked at him, thankfully silent for a moment.

"We've all seen the signs," he continued. "There is something strange going on here, but it has nothing to do with us and nothing to do with aliens. My guess is that a bunch of girls got wise and escaped this hole-in-the-wall without leaving a forwarding address.”

Maria started to speak, but he raised his hand and she was silent.

"But if some psycho is kidnapping girls, I'll watch out for you. Just don't go outside alone, or… better yet… unless I'm there.”

He paused for a moment and said, "Okay? "Okay," she said, nodding.

They were approaching the diner door when he stopped her with a hand. "Don't worry," Michael said.

He smiled and said, "I don't want to fight with you.”

Then he did what he'd wanted to do since they left the garage… actually, since they left Roswell. Michael leaned down and kissed her.

Though surprised, Maria responded immediately.

A few seconds later, he felt her hands on his chest. Then she was pushing him away… gently at first, then with force.

"What?" he said.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Well, I thought it was self-explanatory," Michael said. "I guess not.”

"What are you thinking?" Maria said.

Michael raised his hands in frustration. "Well, I was thinking that I wanted to kiss you, but I've reconsidered," he said, feeling his face go flush as the hairs on the back of his neck began to stand up. With effort, he fought down the rising anger.

"Look, Michael, I'm just not ready for this. Too much has happened, and I just don't know what we are to each other anymore. I'm going to need some time here," she said, the challenge clear on her face and in her voice.