Chapter Thirty-Four:
He watched them from behind the screen door a goofy smile gracing his face when he saw Maria throw up her hands in the air stating something Isabel definitely agreed with by the way she was frowning over at Kyle and the two girls laughing at whatever he'd said. He stared at Isabel his heart rate accelerating inside him as it always did when he was near her. Rubbing his hands down the front of his jeans he took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. 'Get a grip Whitman. She only sees you as a friend.' He scolded himself for what seemed like the thousandth time.
He was just going to make his appearance known when he felt Michael stop behind him glancing over his shoulder. "The shit is about to hit the fan."
"What?" He looked over his shoulder almost colliding with Michael making him take a few steps back. Turning back toward the yard he stared at Isabel, everything in him wanting to rush to her and lose himself in her beautiful eyes, but the arm Michael threw over his shoulders kept him in place.
"Watch them. You can actually feel the hostility bouncing off of them." Tilting his head Michael stared at him for a moment. "You've been gone a while." It wasn't a question directed at him so Alex didn't answer. "Well a lot has changed." His voice took on a gloomy edge that caught Alex's attention immediately.
"I haven't been gone that long. What could have changed that much? Look at them." He pointed his finger at the women in front of them. "Their the same as I left them." He made himself say as he tried to ignore the uneasiness that suddenly sprung inside him.
"I beg to defer oh clueless one. Not one of them is the same. I don't think anyone of us is for that matter."
"Don't tell me…" He tried to make light of the situation or was he just trying to prolong the words he knew would change his life as it apparently had theirs. "While I was trapped in the nightmare of military life the invasion started and I missed out. Damn…I so wanted to be here for that."
"Well I don't know what you were trapped in, but a lot has happen during your absence."
"Michael… let's drop the riddles okay. Just tell me what you're talking about." He demanded weary of the whole conversation.
"It's not my story to tell, but I will say one thing. Liz needs you right now. She needs all the friends she can get."
"Liz? What happen to Liz?" He turned his attention back to her. She didn't look any different. In fact she had a big smile on her face as she stared at Kyle flirting with the girls he was talking to.
"Oh…hell." Michael hissed, running a hand through his hair. "Here it comes."
"What…here what comes?" Alex asked confused as he stared out in front of him. Pointing a finger Michael drew his attention to where Max and Amber were talking. "I don't get it. They're just talking."
"Yeah… well I know that and you know that, they obviously don't see it that why. You'd think he was feeling her up or something."
"Wow… I think Maria's going to kill them."
"Nope…my bets on Isabel." Michael said as he watched Isabel pull Maria to a stop.
"I think Liz is going after them herself. How much time do you think they'll give her for murder?" He wondered out loud. "Shouldn't we stop this?" He asked even though he wanted to see what would happen just as much as Michael.
"Are you kidding me? If it was Maria confronting them then I wouldn't be standing here, but Liz. I think this will be good for her."
"What do you mean?"
"Just leave it alone. You have enough time to dwell in reality after this weekend. Enjoy while you can, Alex."
"Wow…do you think she can see that?" Alex asked staring wide eyes at Max and Amber.
"Look at her face. I would definitely say she sees Amber's hand on Max's arm. Michael laughed despite himself.
"I think we should really stop this. Liz looks mad enough to really kill both of them and then turn on us just for being the same gender as Max."
"Yeah… maybe your right." Michael sighed as he reached pass Alex and pushed the screen door open, but as they watched Liz grab Max and pulled him close to her taking his mouth wildly with hers right in front of a very surprised Amber they let the screen door slam close again, each wide eyed and mouth held open as they stared in disbelief.
"Did you say something was wrong with Liz, because she looks perfectly fine from where I'm standing."
"She's getting there…she's definitely getting there." Michael said as he watched Liz walked away from Max leaving him completely baffled as he stared after her. Michael smiled slamming his hand down on Alex's back. "She's done good."
"I thought you were on Max's side. You know only talking and all?"
"Yeah… well, right now…Liz has my undivided attention." He said as he watched her stop in front of Maria and Isabel who couldn't seem to stop laughing.
"What the hell!" Alex yelled when he saw Max grab Liz's arm and started to drag her away from Maria and Isabel.
Michael grabbed his arm before he could push the screen door open and charge after them. "Let it go." He said frowning at him.
"The hell I will." He hissed pulling at Michael's hold. "He can't treat her like that…not when I'm around."
"Alex my friend…your in for a rude awakening." Sighing he released him. "Look we both know that Max isn't going to hurt her."
Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes for a moment. "Okay…he wouldn't hurt her, but that doesn't give him the right to treat her like that."
"I think you need to asks yourself if you've ever seen Max treat her like that." Michael said staring intently at him. "Like I've said you've been gone for a long time, Alex's. A lot has changed."
"If your trying to say that he's been abusive to her in my absence's…"
"Shit…man. Think about what your saying, Max abusive to Liz? Damn! He'd rather give himself to our enemies then hurt her."
"Okay…okay…you're made your point." He said sighing even though he was definitely going to pull Max aside the first chance he got and let him know in no uncertain terms will he stand by and let him manhandle one of his best friends no matter what the circumstances. 'Why the hell would Maria just stand there and watch him do it?' He wondered confused.
TBC
