courtneyyyyyy is weakkkkkk:P
!
Yeah, at this moment his will to carry on is going to give his life a new drive.
It's nice to see you're very eager to read a new chapter. At this moment I will renew the story every week on Friday.
To zfehrian:
Haha, it would be nice if they would live together, huh? But I have to dissapoint you: Michael is definitely looking for his own place. He doesn't want to share something at the moment. Maria wouldn't mind though. She still cares a lot about him.
To emza:
So you like Michael much better now. I hope you will keep liking him.
To valentinebaby:
Yeah, you're right. Michael took a complete turn. Future will tell if that was a good decision. That he didn't rush it too much.
To emadaps:
You won't have to wait longtime. The chapter will reveal the hunting!
To xmag:
That's true. Basketball will give Michael a goal in life. It's a way of escaping the bad side of his life, to explore his possibilities, to make fun,...
To April:
I like it you got so curious to read the rest of the chapters. Means I'm doing something right here.
It's true: I really wanted to give you an allround idea about the game. Even more, to get in the fuzz as well. It's nice to know I succeeded.
Chapter five
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm on my way back
where I belong.
Chantal Kreviazuk - Feels like home
Feels like I'm on my way back
where I belong.
Chantal Kreviazuk - Feels like home
Maria closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh air, enjoying the silence. Only the sound of birds in the bushes broke the silence in the little garden. Behind her she heard Michael's wheel chair riding through the back door on to the terrace. Maria glanced over her shoulders at him.
"So?" he asked "What's your opinion?
"Cosy little house. Not too big, not too small. You could really feel home here. What are you thinking yourself?"
He shook his head approvingly. "Not too bad. Certainly not too bad. It's the best thing we've seen in the last couple of weeks."
Indeed, there he had a point. But that wasn't so hard. In the last two weeks they had seen several houses at which they had both stared in disbelief. Some little more than slums.
Michael and Maria could write a book about their encounters during house-hunting.
Maria still got sick thinking about that one house where mould grew on the walls.
Michael had joked "Whoa, Maria, they can harvest mushrooms here." but the stiff real estate agent hadn't laughed at his remark.
Or that one house the agency had recommended as being perfectly accessible. And indeed, on paper it had looked perfect. Large, airy rooms. No stairs indoors. The realtor had just forgotten to mention the ten steps leading up to the front door. It had been a real disappointment.
And with some laughter she also thought back to the apartment on the fourth floor. It had looked quiet good and they had been pleased to have found something so easily. The feeling lasted until they took the elevator back downstairs.
When they went up, the rickety elevator had amused them. But their laughter faded very fast when they got stuck on the way back. The old elevator held them hostage for more then two hours before a worker could save them both. Maria could laugh about it now but at the time she had clung to Michael for dear life. And every time the elevator had descended with sinister shakes she had squeezed him to death. Michael had found the whole elevator situation very hilarious but he was smart enough not to let her see that just then. He could see she was terrified. So he kept his big mouth shut and just took her in his arms.
They had almost given up their search when Maria noticed something on her way back from school. A bungalow from the seventies was for sale, not far from the centre of Roswell. Maria had called Michael immediately and he had contacted with the real estate agency. And that's why they were there today.
Maria followed Michael back inside. "Tell me, Michael, what's the deal? I'm not an expert on this stuff. It looks alright to me but is the house in good condition?"
He looked around the kitchen, deep in thought.
"The kitchen is totally worn out. But that's actually a good thing because I want adjustable cupboards and cabinets so I can access them easily from my wheel chair. And maybe, if miracles do happen and I could escape this damn thing I could put them up high again."
He took the curve to the living room and continued his journey through the house.
"The living room is very spacious and there's no door separating the kitchen. So that's positive too. The door to the hallway is broad enough. It should be seven inches wider, but well, it's OK. The toilet is too small to enter with my wheelchair but that's not really a problem as the bath room is spacious enough to do some adjustments."
"What needs to be done there?" she asked in interest.
"There's a small wet room instead of a shower. That's already perfect. So I just want to adjust the toilet."
Lingering she added, "But isn't that too much to do? You're up to that?"
"Adjusting two rooms is a piece of cake. The other rooms only need a coat of paint. What do you think? Don't hold back."
"Well, you're right. The living room is perfect. The wooden floors are charming. There's lots of natural light. I can see a bench and some chairs over there. A table and seats in that corner. Some nice colours on the walls. And most of all no posters of Metallica."
He smirked before he looked on in amusement at her as she whirled around the room. She really looked great. Her eyes sparkled. Her enthusiasm was so apparent. His thoughts surprised him. He had never seen her more then a friend. And now… Well, he wasn't sure anymore.
When she realised he was staring at her, she broke the silence. "And what's next to do?"
"Right now?" he asked. "Well, right now we're going to a pub and I'm buying you a drink. When you were in the garden, I called the realtor and placed a bid. He accepted."
"So you're saying you already bought this house?" she asked in astonishment.
"Yeah." he nodded affirmative. "Well, I do have to sign some paperwork but yeah… You can congratulate me with my new purchase."
"You impulsive jack-ass." she punched his shoulder playfully before she threw her hands in the air in an exaggerated fashion. "Why did you even bother to invite me here? Why did you need my opinion when you already made a decision before you heard me out?"
His smile broadened. "Well, first of all, I can't drive a car at the moment and you're one heck of a driver. Most of the times that is." Michael evaded her neatly when she tried to poke him in the ribs.
"Sponger," she teased.
He grinned playfully at her. "Secondly I saw your beautiful eyes shine like they approved what they were looking at. They started glowing the second we stepped in this place. And thirdly, it's a great house." He looked at her in triumph.
She laughed. "What am I supposed to do with you, Michael Guerin? A leech and a charmer at the same time. My God, What did I start here?"
"Something very nice. So let's finish it. I'm taking you to a nice place. Well that is, you're driving, I'm treating."
******
Some time later Maria parked her car beside a bar between Roswell and the rehab center. She grabbed his chair and unfolded it quickly. Michael slipped into the seat and rotated himself in the direction of the entrance. Maria walked alongside him. In the past weeks she had learned not to jump up and help him. Michael wanted to do everything by himself. Even when it got tough. Most of the time it was hard seeing him wrestle his chair but after he had yelled at her once she didn't interfere again unless he asked. But he was a stubborn guy so that didn't happen quiet often.
They took a seat at a nice table in a corner. A stern looking waiter showed up to take orders.
Maria read the menu with a lot of interest before deciding. "I'd like a Cherry Coke."
The waiter wrote down her order and addressed her again. "And what will he have?"
"HE'LL have a beer." Michael was at the verge of exploding.
Maria saw his temper rise within the minute. But the waiter didn't react to Michael's provoking answer. His face stayed straight. Even his eyes didn't blink. He just turned around and walked speechless to the counter.
"Can you believe it?" Shaking her head she looked at him. "Some people don't think, do they? Or are they just unsure because they don't know how to handle a person in a wheel chair?"
"Unsure my ass." Michael barked. "If I hadn't promised you a drink and there were other places we could go, I would have left. But I'm never coming back to this pig sty."
He gestured wildly as he spoke. "Sometimes I really think I got a sign 'mentaly retarded' pinned to my forehead. Actually I should put a sign on saying 'Don't feed. Can think on his own.'"
Maria laughed.
"What's the matter?"
The annoyed look on his face made her laugh more. Between giggles, she explained "Nothing. Really. But I was just imagining it. And it was quiet funny to say the least. Can I paint the sign though?"
Her answer dissolved his temper and he laughed along. Still a little on edge but he laughed.
The waiter delivered their drinks wordlessly. Maria lifted her glass and clinked Michael's. "To your new house."
"To my new home. I know I'm a long way from home but I took the first step and it feels great. I actually have something to look forward too. Living at the Evans's house doesn't feel as suffocating as before. Whenever Mrs Evans starts mothering me, I know I have someplace I can go now."
"Nice huh." She said affectionately, enjoying the contented smirk on his face.
"And I have some other plans too? Wanna hear them?"
"No doubt about it. Make my day."
"I'm going to inquire about getting my driver license back."
"You, driving?" Maria looked at him in confusion. "But you can't use your legs. How can you drive for heaven's sake? Don't get me wrong. I know you can do whatever you set your mind on. I've seen that in the past. And right now too. But is that even legal?"
"Sure, if I pass the test. I can get an adjusted car. You can get you accelerator put on your steering-wheel instead of a pedal. Or they can build in an elevator system to stow the wheel chair away. Thinks like that. I think I'm going to ask Kyle about it. He can do wonders with a car."
Maria nodded. "You're right. That would be great. A car would give you great freedom. It doesn't matter if you are in or out a wheel chair."
"And you know me, huh, freedom above all things."
"Hey, Michael, sorry to interrupt but we should start going. Otherwise it will be too late and I have to drop you back at the rehab center." She changed the subject.
"Can you believe I don't feel like it?" Michael asked.
She nodded her head. "Totally. But you know what? Next week will be your first weekend at home with the Evans family. Let's make some arrangements for Saturday. I can rent a movie and we have a cosy evening at my place. My mom is gone for the weekend. Interested?"
He rubbed his hands. "Of course. But can I take it a step further?
She leaned forward and stroked her finger along the palm of his hand, teasing him playfully. "Course you can. Obviously you want some extras, booking a penthouse room in my luxurious hotel. With an exquisite seven courses dinner, a long massage and to finish off, hot steaming sex?
Michael smirked, his eyes twinkled. "Be my guest. I'm always up for that. Ok, for real now, are you going to fetch me at the center on Saturday?"
"Instead of Mr or Mrs Evans?"
"Uh huh. I'm a big boy, you know," He said with a straight face.
She smiled. "I believe that." She turned serious. "It's a long drive to Las Cruces. So let's say I could be there about eleven o' clock. Is that ok for you?"
"It's a date."
She rolled her eyes. "Whoa, a date with Michael Guerin. A dream come true." she joked as they left the bar.
