what are friends for

The next couple of days had gone by fast. Avoiding Max and Maria successfully, had turned out easier than expected. Liz and Michael, against all odds, somehow become friends in the short of time. Spending most of her time reading, hanging with Michael or the occasional evenings with her parents. At the end of the day, she always drifted back deep into thoughts.

After decided she needed a change of scenery, Liz had called Alex. The reunion between the two best friends was filled with joy, as Alex hugged her tightly. Plagued by her conscience, Liz apologized for leaving in a rush. Alex understood and they ended up talking all day long. Gratefully they didn't run into any of their friends, which Liz was thankful for.

Michael on the other hand, wasn't as lucky as Liz. Between his time with Liz, work and training with Tess, Maria and Max were really starting to piss him off. Unfortunately today was one of these days. Throwing his apron in frustration, he stormed into the break room almost colliding with Liz.

"Whoa. What did they say this time?"

"Same bullshit as always." he said fuming with anger.

"I handle it." She knew she had to face them sooner or later. So why not now? That way she could give Michael some much-needed breathing room, while facing her fear. Two birds one stone!

"What are friends for. Right?" Liz said smiling, winking. When his brain finally caught up with her, Liz was out the door before Michael had a chance to react.

Liz approached the four of them nervously. Maybe doing this wasn't such a good idea after all. At least she wasn't alone with them, so what could possibly go wrong?

Well only one way to find out.

"Oh my god Liz!" Maria jumped up screaming from her seat, hugging her. "You back."

"Maria, you crushing me." Apologizing, Maria took a step back, releasing her.

"So how are you?"

"I'm good." Liz glanced over to Max.

"Hi Liz."

"We missed you so much." Maria said referring to her and Max, dragging her with her.

"Hi guys." she greeted Isabel and Tess with a smile.

"Hi Liz. How was Florida?" Isabel asked right away.

"Really nice actually. I had time to figure stuff out." looking at Isabel, avoiding Max.

"That's good."

"What about you guys?"

"Pretty much the same."

"Oh." Boy was this getting awkward of what?

Neither wanted to broach the subject, that was so obviously lingering in the air. Tess looked as uncomfortable as she felt. Isabel smiled polite, trying to make conversation, while Max was staring holes at her. And Maria was asking question after question.

Did she always talked this much? Liz wondered silently. What she wouldn't give for a nice distraction.

"Why don't you and Max do something today and we meet up tomorrow? That way you guys get a chance to talk." Maria suggest to her. Liz who hadn't listen to a word she said was taken aback.

"Maria I don't think that's a good idea." The last thing she wanted was to spend time with them.

"Aw come on Liz, please." Max shifted awkwardly besides her.

Begging much? Liz though annoyed.

"I know you missed Max." she grinned mischievously.

As if. Couldn't Maria tell that she wasn't in the mood. Why was she pushing her on Max? Wasn't she supposed to be on her site?

"It's not like anyone here is interested in all this destiny shit."

Liz turned her head when she mentioned destiny. Max was assuring her that he and Tess came to a mutual agreement and were just friends. Maria told her the same regarding Michael and Isabel. Looking over to Tess, Liz felt as if Max hadn't really given her a choice in that matter. She looked sad. Suddenly fully understanding Michael's frustration earlier, Liz felt such resentment towards her best friend. Even if she knew Maria was just trying to help her.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, she looked up on instinct.

Talk about a distraction when you need one. Liz thought relieved, leaping of her seat.

"Kyle?" Liz was never in her entire life so happy to see him.

"Liz."

"Hey how are you?" pulling him into a hug, welcoming him home.

"Good. Thanks. Found buddha."

"Come again?"

"Long story."

"Great. Wanna tell me all about it then?" There was a pleading in her eyes even he couldn't miss.

"Sure."

"Hi Kyle."

"Hi Tess, guys." he nodded.

After making brief conversation, Liz apologized politely to Max and Maria. She was so utterly grateful to Kyle that she invited him to dinner, too. As they were saying their goodbyes to the group, something made Liz look at Tess. She looked lonely, left out, like she still wasn't part of the group. Somehow she could related to that. For a second she could have sworn she actually felt it. So Liz made, what seemed like a split decision.

"Hey Tess why don't you join us?"

Tess looked at her in shock. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah come on."

"What just happened?" Maria asked stunned as they walked away.

Liz asked Michael to join them as well. They were preparing food and drinks, when Tess asked if she could be of assistance. Sensing that she wanted to talk to Liz alone, Michael left.

"Can I help you with that?"

"Sure." Liz smiled.

"Liz?"

"Hmm."

"Thank you, for this I mean."

"Don't mention it."

"No really. Thank you for including me."

"You're welcome. What are friends for, right?"

"Friends huh?"

Tess never thought they would be. Not after everything that happened. Let alone expecting Liz to make an effort to become friends. Liz turned around to face her.

"Hi I'm Liz, it's nice to meet you." holding out her hand. Tess needed a second to recover from the shock before shaking her hand in return.

"Hi I'm Tess, it's nice to meet you, too." Smiling, they finished up and joined the guys.

They kept talking for hours that afternoon. Liz and Kyle told them about their time away from all the craziness. How he found buddha to cope with the new-found knowledge. Tess and Michael filled them in on what they've done. Eventually they reached the subject of Max, Maria and destiny. That was not a conversation anyone wanted to have.

Nonetheless they did talked about it all. Liz told them how she felt about Max, to say that Kyle and Tess were shocked, was an understatement. It also took them by surprise to learn about her feelings towards Maria. Deep down Liz knew something was changing her physical, but she left that part out of the conversation.

"So listen there is something I wanted to talk to you about, about happened with Max earlier." Liz said turning to Tess.

"What do you mean."

"When he said that you guys came to a mutual agreement. It was his decision wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"Though as much. Don't let him walk all over you k? You deserve better than that."

"You've changed." Tess said thoughtful.

"That's a good thing, right?"

"Yeah." both smiled happily.

Michael had an annoyed expression on his face, Kyle must be still on buddha talk. Not that they had listen much anyways.

"My strength fails. My vitality exhausted. I cannot find the bull. I only hear the locusts chirring through the night."

"Whatever buddha boy."

"You do realize we didn't understand a single word you just said right?"

Eventually Kyle and Tess had left, leaving them to the setting sundown. Thanking Liz for throwing herself to the wolf's, as Michael liked to call it, for his sake they spent the rest of the evening looking at the sunset.

As it was getting darker, the moonlight shone lightly upon them. Gazing up into the stars, they could hear music playing from below. Leaning back, Liz closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh cold air. Turning is view, Michael looked at her peaceful nature, savoring each moment.

Liz felt a pull towards Michael. It wasn't the first time, either. She was experiencing this awakening for a week now. Liz wondered if Michael could feel it too. Shaking her head she shoved her thoughts aside.

You just imagining thinks Liz. She kept on telling herself, as a shiver ran through her.

Deep in thoughts, Michael experienced some emotions of his own. They were faint, but they kept lingered between them. Noticing her shudder under the night sky, he put a blanket around her. Startled by the sudden warmth around her, Liz open her eyes, staring into Michael's.

The wind was picking up and the temperature was dropping. Clouds were forming above them, as the sky darkened. Neither one of them notice, until it began to pour down.

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