Chapter 6

I sat down on a bench outside. John sat next to me, and we didn't speak for some time. But he interrupted the quiet by asking me. "How long have you and James been friends?"

I looked up and stared into the sky. I enjoyed the warmth of the sun before I answered. "Sense before I can remember. I know we came from the same town, and we were neighbors. But that's all, everything else is training." I looked down and rested my head on my arms.

I felt his hand go on my back and he spoke. "Liz, I don't really know what to say. Things are pretty odd around here. We train, we fight, and we kill. But, I don't think we usually have close friends. Or actually having relationships past friendship."

I looked up and then took a deep breath. "Blast it, we can't seem to get a thing straight!" I grabbed a stick and broke it in half with my frustration. "I know were Spartans! I know! But I can't help but feel human… More human than I should…"

I looked up and saw John thinking hard on something. He moved his hand from my back and rose. He stretched and took a deep breath. "As far as I know, we are still human, were just augmented."

I knew what he meant, it's OK to love someone, but we can't let it interfere with things. I rose as well and looked up. "I should apologize to James." I looked at him, and felt a level of intensity with the way he was looking at me.

He nodded and spoke strongly. "I'll come if you want me to." He held out a hand and I took it.

"Thanks John, I really appreciate it." I whispered and we started looking for James. First we checked the main gym. John went into the men's bathroom and came out shaking his head. I sighed, and said. "We need to get back into our armor anyway."

I went into the women's bathroom and unlocked my cubby box, took out my armor, and changed in one of the changing booths. Then I put the workout clothes in a large bin. When I got back out I saw John still in the workout clothes. "Where's your armor?" I asked him.

His face had on an expression of pure rage. "He took my armor. James stole my armor."

"How! Didn't you lock your cubby box?"

"I did, but he broke into it some how."

"You don't think he did that to spite you do you? That's not how James normally roles. He may get cocky, and I mean COCKY, but he knows the trouble that would get him into."

"Well there is no other suspect. Liz, guys do crazy things when they think they are going to lose someone or something precious." John lamenated.

Almost instantly my mind went back to last night. Elizabeth, I think I… I think I love you… James said that to me, and I had said James, I think I love you too. He must think I'm falling in love with John. "SHIT! JOHN WE NEED TO FIND HIM BEFORE HE DOES SOMETHING STUPID OR IRREVERSABLE!"

I grabbed John's arm and ran out of the gym. He kept pace and I soon didn't have to drag him behind me. We called out his name everywhere we went.

"You're looking for James?" A harsh voice asked us. I turned around and came face to face with a Spartan known for his short-temper and skill with explosives.

"Yeah, Daniel have you seen him? We need to find him and fast!" I pleaded with him; he looked at us for a bit and nodded his head.

"He came by about an hour ago. He had a bundle of armor, and looked pretty pissed. Looked like he was headed to the armory, or something around there."

"Thanks Daniel!" I quickly said and began racing down the hallway. My mind was buzzing, I couldn't think straight and ran right into a group of Spartans.

"Hey! Watch it Liz!" Sam, a super skiled sniper growled.

"NO TIME SAM! SHOOT ME LATER IF YOU WANT! BUT FOR NOW MOVE!" I yelled at him and he and the others moved out of my way. I took off again, feeling like I was running faster then I ever have, or thought I could have.

I could hear John's heavy breath behind me. I'm moving faster then he is? Or is he just tired?

We ran past the med-bay and sped down the curving hallway we were in. People everywhere were yelling at us to watch it or slow down. I didn't pay attention to any of them. I had only one thing on my mind. James…