Hi guys, thanks so much for all the reviews.

Here's the next chapter...

Chapter 6: Pizza & Parley

"... then I told them a story about Max and Danny, I changed their names of course, and the incident at that old Buddhist temple, the one they thought was haunted. And how Max ended up getting stuck under that huge bell and they had to work together to get him out."

Taylor sipped her drink slowly as Alyssa chattered away across the table at their favourite pizza parlour. Heavy on the foliage, it had an eclectic decor, a heavy mix of green and brown with animal prints and claw marks adorning the walls. It was wild, which was probably a good thing since the place was called Jungle Karma Pizza. It had the most unusually named menu and the best pizzas in town. Back in High School Taylor and Alyssa were regulars along with their little group of friends and it seemed like perfect place to catch up with her friend over lunch.

"That's a good lesson on how not to be an idiot," she nodded, as she set her glass down.

"Very funny, it was supposed to be a lesson on working things out and not giving up," Alyssa shot back, as she picked up a slice of the pizza they were sharing.

Taylor looked up at a framed picture of a bison on the wall beside their booth and smiled. "Hmm… Oh right they were fighting about Kendall at the time. I almost forgot about that. Who would have thought a girl would come between the goofy twins," she recalled.

Alyssa almost choked on her pizza. "What?!" she coughed out. "Max had a thing for Kendall? Where was I when that happened?"

She shook her head as she handed her a napkin. "He never had a thing for her. But four eyes kept ditching him to hang out with her and he didn't take that too well. Being the kid that he is, Max threw a tantrum and ended up you know where." She paused thinking back to just how ridiculous the entire situation was. "Why are we friends with them again?"

Alyssa snorted."You can joke and call them as many names as you want. But if either one is in trouble, you'll be the first to go out on a limb to help, I guarantee it."

Taylor tilted her head back in compliance as she bit into a slice. There was no argument there. Still, looking back they did make the most unusual group of friends, but considering the circumstances, maybe it wasn't so strange after all. She twisted around to get a better look of the back wall which was covered with framed photographs capturing memorable moments in the parlour over the years. There were several of her with her friends and her sisters and even the one person she wished never existed.

Her lips curved into a smile when her eyes locked in on one particular picture from an anniversary party where the owner R.J had all of them wear animal masks. She had chosen an eagle and was flanked by Leo wearing a lion mask, and Sky who'd opted for a condor. In front of them were Alyssa as a white tiger, Lily as a cheetah, Theo most likely frowning under his jaguar mask and Max and Danny sandwiching everyone in, wearing their respective shark and bison masks.

"We had some fun times here," Alyssa mused, pulling her attention back to her. "And now that you're back, we should all do something."

"We're still missing Lil and Theo," she pointed out, as she shifted back into her original position.

"That's true, but who knows when Sky and you are going to be back at the same time again. We're doing this, I'm going to call the guys and set it up," the brunette insisted.

Taylor shook her head and tucked into her pizza, recognising the familiar glint in her friend's eyes. There was no trying to talk her out of things when she got like this, but spending time with her old friends before taking off on her next assignment might not be such a bad idea.

"So what have you been up to?"

The question took her by surprise and she narrowed her eyes suspiciously but Alyssa just smiled at her as she twirled her straw around the glass. "Same as always. Nothing as exciting as teaching a bunch of little tykes."

That earned her a glare, or at least what Alyssa could pass off as a glare, but surprised her was the teasing smile that her lips curved into and the mischievous glint lighting up her eyes. "Oh really? So nothing interesting happened with Mr. Tall, dark and broody?"

"Careful Lyss, you're drooling," she snapped, as the image of a smug smirk flashed before her eyes.

Alyssa chuckled. "I'll admit he's hot but definitely not my type. But Jen did mention a few sparks flying between you two and I'm trying to figure out why you didn't cue me in."

Taylor shook her head wondering when her sister had turned into such a gossip and just what is was she found so fascinating about that moron. "He's an arrogant jerk Lyss, who clearly needs to be knocked off his high horse, there's nothing more to it. Unfortunately for me, I keep running into him."

"What do you mean?"

She inhaled sharply and told her about her visit to the Silver Guardians headquarters, running into Mike and of course Eric and Wes and everything that happened. Alyssa gave her a disapproving look when she talked about Wes' discomfort when he realised she was a fighter pilot and pieces clicked into place, but she ignored her. In her defence, he never asked. She went on to tell her that they'd then been invited to dinner by Mrs. Truman the previous night and who should show up but Mr. Collins and Co.

"It sounds like Kimberly and Leelee are quite taken with Jen,"Alyssa pointed out.

Taylor nodded. "She was pretty much the only person they talked to the entire evening, apart from their own family. Wes actually had to compete with them for her attention. It was quite funny actually. By the way, he insists that he be called Wes and acts like we've known each other for years."

"So you weren't able to scare him off, huh? I bet Jen appreciates that," Alyssa teased.

She rolled her and drummed her fingers against the checkered table. "Like I was even trying." Leaning forward, she rested her chin on her hands and as an afterthought added, "He's not to bad though and Mr. Collins seems pretty decent too. My dad definitely got a new friend out of this ordeal. It's his sisters that are infuriating… and I grew up with Marah and Kapri."

"Then you of all people should know that you can't judge a person by their family," Alyssa pointed out as she leaned back into her seat with a content sigh. "You forgot about Eric."

"Huh?"

"Eric, what was he doing at dinner? You forgot to mention how obnoxious he was, or maybe he wasn't after all?"

Taylor frowned at the teasing note in her friend's voice but refrained from rolling her eyes. "He didn't talk much, or at least I didn't pay attention, I was preoccupied," she admitted.

"Worried about Jen?" Alyssa gave her a knowing look and she smiled, nodding as she explained that Jen came home that night completely enamoured by Wes and since then talked of little else. "She's got it bad Lyss and you should have seen them last night, they completely forgot the rest of us were there."

Alyssa smiled as she drained her glass. "And that's a bad thing? From what you've told me the feeling seems to be mutual. This could be good for Jen. So long as she doesn't play it safe."

Taylor blinked, that was not something she expected from Alyssa. The brunette usually refrained from sharing strong opinions on other people's relationships. "Since when are you the relationship expert?" she teased.

Alyssa's warm smile faded into a more serious expression as she sat up straighter. "I'm not. But you know better than anyone that Jen's not the same person she used to be. Whatever happened with Alex had a bigger impact that even she realises. You're the one that told me she's lost her confidence, and not just when it comes to dating."

Taylor growled under her breath and her grip on her glass tightened. Thinking about Alex was enough to make her blood boil. He was Jen's ex and the reason the words caution and doubt existed in her once fearless sister's vocabulary.

"What I'm trying to say," Alyssa continued. "Is that maybe Wes coming to Turtle Cove was a good thing. I saw him dancing with her at the ball and I agree he's smitten. If Jen feels the same she should be upfront about here feelings. Remember Wes isn't going to be around very long, if she wants something to happen she will have to make a move."

"Lyss she just met the guy. And this is Jen we're talking about. She's not going to come out and say she likes him, she's definitely going to be more cautious, as she should be."

Alyssa tilted her head to the side and brought her hands together on the table. "Tay, Wes is the attractive heir to a million dollar company and quite the charmer. He's been quite a few relationships, many of which ended because the women were more interested in his money than him. By that logic he's not going to make a move till he's sure about her feelings for him, even if he is smitten."

Taylor raised an eyebrow inquisitively and Alyssa blushed turning her head away as she admitted she may have looked him up online and read a couple of tabloid articles.

"Who are you and what have you done with Alyssa?" Taylor laughed, unable to hold it in. "But seriously, I don't know where this need to psychoanalyse Wes came from, nor do I know what he's looking for apart from what I can see. I do however, know Jen. She doesn't play games but she's not the type to throw herself at a guy either, especially one she's just met. And if Wes is the charmer you say he is, then she has every right to be cautious."

They leaned back as a waiter stopped by their table to pick up the empty dishes. Alyssa waited until he was out of hearing distance before continuing. "But Wes doesn't know that. He doesn't know what Jen is like and time is something they don't have. If she wants a relationship I think she's going to have to put herself out there."

"Lyss you're scaring me, you sound an awful lot like my mother and Mrs. Truman. Jen isn't out to bag some rich guy. I think she genuinely likes him and that scares her. And if he can't see that she likes him, then he's an idiot who doesn't deserve her."

Alyssa smiled at her and nodded. "Tay, I get that you're protective of your sister and that does make you a little biased. And I'm not saying your in wrong about Jen, it's just that you're giving Wes a little too much credit. As nice as he appears to be, he's still a guy that they usually need things spelt out for them."

Taylor chuckled. "That is something we can both agree on. And I get what you're saying but I think it's best I stay out of it completely. I'll just leave it to Jen and Wes to decide what they are and if they do make it work I'll be happy for them."

"But…"

"But if he hurts her, he's in for a world of pain."

They shared a laugh until a shaggy haired figure in a chef's jacket accompanied by an orange apron and a leopard print bandanna popped up by their booth. "Hey there girls, how are two of my favourite customers?"

"Everyone's your favourite customer R.J," Alyssa pointed out as she looked up at him with a smile.

He tilted his head and nodded in acknowledgement as he slid into the booth beside her. "That's true but you two are extra special and it's been a while since I've seen you in here. How was lunch?"

"Excellent as always," Taylor acknowledged. "If there's one thing I miss in Reefside it's your pizza."

Alyssa scowled but R.J chuckled. "And that's why you're my favourite customer. And since this is an impromptu little homecoming, how about dessert? On the house, of course. We have a cheethalicious new cheesecake on the menu."

"Yes please!" they chorused.

Hope you enjoyed that. Do review and share your thoughts.

Till next time...