Liz was counting the hours before they were to meet
Liz was counting the hours before they were to meet. Maria assured her that they managed to convince Isabel, Kyle and Tess to show up, but she was still nervous. She couldn't understand why, because they were all used to the crisis. This was just one among many, but she didn't know how any of them would react… Especially Max.
She fidgeted with the cleaning rag, fighting the urge to run to her room and go online. She wanted to talk to E.T.. He would calm her down, she knew. Was she making a big mistake? Maybe she shouldn't tell them what she knew.
"Earth to Parker… Order is up."
She looked up to Michael blushing slightly. This wasn't the time for these thoughts. She had a job to do. She grabbed the plates of steaming food and went to deliver it to the old couple in the front booth. Only thirty minutes before closing and the closer it got, the more antsy she got.
"Liz, you're going to explode if you don't calm down. Whatever it is, it can't be as bad as some of the things we've dealt with." Alex lounged on one of the stools by the register, watching her and Maria work. She knew he was right, but it was easier said than done. She walked over to him and grabbed his hand, placing the cleaning rag in it.
"Get yourself busy…"
"Hey, this isn't my job…"
"You aren't doing anything else but annoy us, Alex." Maria walked up behind him with a broom and dustpan in hand. "You either clean the counter and table tops or go scrub the toilet. Your choice."
"Uh… The tables are looking real appealing."
"Thought it would. Run along."
"Why don't you all start working? What do you think this is? Home?" Michael arched a brow, leaning over the window ledge waving around a spatula.
"I thought you were the only one that considered this home…" Maria countered.
"Give me a few posters of near-naked women, and it'll feel a little more cozy."
"We don't run that kind of establishment. Save it for later, PeeWee."
"More than you can handle, DeLuca."
"We all know you are all talk and no action, Guerin…"
"Hello?! We're still here." Alex waved a hand in between the heated looks that Maria and Michael were sharing. The sexual tension was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.
"Looks like we didn't miss much." Tess laughed as her, Max, Kyle and Isabel walked into the Café and grabbed a booth.
"Just the angst moments between the two lovers." Alex ducked as Michael threw a slice of stale bread towards him.
Maria shook her head and walked over to the register as the old couple got up from their booth and scurried over. They were obviously in a rush to get out of there, and she couldn't really blame them. She wished she could get out of Michael's disgusting presence before she either decked or kissed him senseless. Both of them sounded intriguing.
Max sat down next to his sister with Tess and Kyle across from them. Liz went over to lock the front door and flip the sign over to "Closed" before joining them. Maria and Alex leaned against the side of the booth, Michael stood like a sentinel with legs wide apart and arms folded across his chest, and Liz stood beside him playing with the hem of her outfit.
"So what is it that we have to know?" Isabel put in impatiently, glaring back at Max when he threw her a warning look.
"Um… Yeah. I don't know where to begin…"
"I think the beginning is a good place as any." Michael pointed out feeling the same impatience as Izzy.
"Thank you, Michael… Okay. Awhile ago, I got some disturbing news. It was just before the Skins come about… I got a visit from Max's future self."
"Hold up… Are you saying Max from the future came back into the past to tell you something? Isn't that a bit crazy?" Tess asked, looking around at the skeptical faces.
"Oh? And Aliens are an everyday occurrence I'm sure." Maria arched a brow, waiting for someone to dispute her statement. "So if Aliens can exist, then why not time travel?"
"Whether it happened or not isn't the point… What did my future self have to say?"
"Well… he told me that our love would cause the destruction of the Earth."
"The destruction of the Earth… Don't you think that is a bit self-centered? Why do you think that your 'relationship' should be the catalyst to bringing about the end of the world?" Michael rolled his eyes in disbelief.
"I was told one of us will betray the group and join up with the Skins."
"Which of us would betray the group? And all because of the love of you and Max?" Isabel appeared confused at this. "The only one that could have been affected would be Tess…"
"Are you accusing me of betraying everyone? Is that what you think of me?" Tess glared across the table to Isabel restrained by Kyle's hand on her shoulder.
"I wasn't accusing you of anything. I said you WERE the only one. Past tense. It was the whole issue of destiny. But since everyone isn't following our supposed destiny, then it shouldn't apply."
"Well… I can't really say what I would've done. You all weren't exactly accepting me with open arms."
"It was a difficult time for us, and we didn't really want to accept something that felt forced on us." Max added softly, looking down at his folded hands as everything seemed to sink in. That was why Liz was pushing him away. She was trying to protect the world from destruction, but she should have seen how absurd the idea was. If it was meant to be then nothing could change it… He spared a quick gaze up at her, wondering why she got quiet. She had her arms wrapped around her waist and she was looking down at her feet. Her cheeks were tinged with a blush as a single tear trickled down her cheek.
"Liz…?"
"I made a whole mess of things… I feel like such an idiot." She gave a wobbly laugh before leaving the Café with everyone staring after her in shock. What was that all about? They hadn't meant to make her feel bad. Max got ready to go after her, but Michael reached out a hand to him.