Sitting on the soft grass, Maia turned to look out over the smooth reflective surface of the lake. There was a small tree near the water's edge. It stood out against the low shrubs and other plants in the area. The sky above was a clear light blue, with only a few stray clouds scattered across it. Beyond the lake, Maia could see a forest of evergreen trees. They were reflected in the lake, making the water look dark green in places. Their kayak was resting closer to the water, but well above the shore line so it wouldn't get lost.

She could see his silhouette. Jordan was looking away from her, out over the water; he looked strong standing there. Just days from now, their relationship was destined to crumble before her eyes; but at this point in time, everything was perfect. A light breeze cooled their skin as the sun shone down on them. Maia loved the feel of the sun on her skin. For as long as she could remember, it had brought her joy, and on this day most of all. She and Jordan had kayaked around from the other side of the lake, and just finished eating the picnic they'd brought. Then he'd stood up to get a better look at the water, while she'd stayed sitting by what remained of their lunch, gazing up at him.

Jordan was so tall. He'd taken off his shirt and had his head all the way back, as if soaking in the sun. Maia couldn't help but admire the structure of his chest, the way his muscles looked almost sculpted. She'd trailed her fingers over those muscles many times before, and she remember the feeling as she admired them. She also remembered the possessive feelings she'd had in that moment, knowing he was hers.

Then he turned and looked at her; it was as if the world had stopped turning. Never before had she been so seen, so noticed. Maia knew with absolute certainty that at that point in time, she was the center of his world. A simple smile spread across his face as he moved closer, then sat back down beside her.

"Have you ever thought about trees?" he's asked.

"How much can one think about trees?" Maia replied laughing.

"Trees with needles I mean," Jordan said.

"Evergreens?" Maia inquired.

"Yeah," Jordan smiled, moving so his face was just inches from hers.

"No, Jordan I can't say I've thought a great deal about evergreen trees," Maia chuckled, kissing him briefly since he was so close.

"Can we be like that?" Jordan asked. "Never to wither away and fall to the ground. Evergreen."

"Is this a metaphor?" Maia giggled. "Or are you planning on dying every inch of your skin green?" Jordan laughed with her briefly, then leaned in and kiss her more deeply than she'd kissed him..

"I will love you as long as the evergreen trees are green," Jordan told her firmly, looking right into her eyes.

"Love you too," Maia replied, rolling her eyes at him. They laid down after that, looking up at the clouds together until the hour grew too late, and they had no choice but to get back into their kayak and go home.

Maia shook her head vigorously. It didn't help at all, so she banged her textbook into her forehead a few times. That was so not what she was supposed to be thinking about before meeting Jordan for a study date. It was like her stupid brain was trying to go backward.

It felt like that day at the lake had happened to someone else, or at least in another lifetime. They'd been so young, so ignorant of the world. Maia couldn't remember how their next and last fight had started, but she remembered the ending perfectly. The things they'd screamed at each other, the ways they'd hurt one another. When they fought, it never was just about one problem. Somehow their fights always pulled all the little issues up into the mix. Maia could remember at least a dozen things they'd fought about, though she couldn't quite recall which had been the major issues, and which were just dragged in for the show. Jordan was the messiest person alive, that was one of their issues for sure. Maia could recall going to his house once or twice and seeing the state his room was in. She knew her parent complex had played a role as well. Her mother and father, always thinking of Daniel above all else, had made it hard for Maia to believe all the things Jordan used to say to her, the way he used to look at her. Heck, who was she kidding, the way he still looked at her.

But if Maia wasn't mistaken, it had been high school graduation that had been the last nail in their coffin. To this day, Maia didn't understand why Jordan hadn't wanted to come to school with her, especially now that he'd freakin' followed her anyway. What she remembered most was crying alone in a corner of her house, unnoticed and unseen by anyone. She'd cried until she couldn't cry anymore, and then she'd just sat there and tried to imagine her life without Jordan. It was her first clear memory after their break up. Then Maia had pulled from whatever strength she had left, and decided it was time to get the hell out. She'd left for school with the intention of never looking back.

And now here she was, standing outside the library where she knew Jordan was sitting alone at the same table he'd sat at last time. And like last time, he had probably brought her a coffee. Jordan had so far always been early to all their study sessions, being settled at a table well before she arrived. They rarely talked about anything other than homework, and often sat in silence; but it was a new silence for them, a strangely comfortable one. Still, Maia couldn't really tell if their time together was helping them deal with their unresolved issues or not.

"Hey," Maia said as she sat down.

"Hi," Jordan replied, wordlessly passing her the coffee he'd brought. Maia had to admit, she'd been a little touched during their first study session when he'd remembered her favourite order without asking her.

Taking a sip, Maia pulled out her textbook and started reading. This Management vs. Union course was nothing if not tedious. To her it seemed that unions only got in the way if the management was good, and only sort of helped if the management was crap.

By the time either of them spoke, Maia was finished drinking her coffee, and was halfway through her homework.

"How's your homework going?" Maia asked, deciding it was time to speak.

"Intro to Information Technology," Jordan said. "So basically boring as hell. I could do this class in my sleep."

"So you don't need to study for it then," Maia said, grinning.

"I um-" Jordan started, clearly trying to find some other reason to spend the next hour with her. "Yeah, but like still, it never hurts to review, right?"

"Sure," Maia replied. Why was she smiling? Did she like that he didn't need to be here, and was clearly only here to see her?

"This Econ class is more work," Jordan said, quickly switching around his textbooks and pulling out something else to work on.

"You were always great at school, Jordan," Maia said. "I am sure you are doing great in all your classes." Jordan just shrugged. He'd been like this in high school as well, always under valuing his own intelligence. Jordan was the type of guy who could skip half his classes, do half the homework, and then ace his tests and get a B+ in any subject he was even remotely interested in. When Jordan enjoyed a class, he got A's effortlessly. Math was the only subject she'd ever seen him do badly in, and she was sure Jordan could have done better in Math if he'd applied himself.

"You could have gone to any University in the country," Maia told him. "I kinda get why you didn't want to come to this one with me."

"I did want to come here with you," Jordan said.

"What was our big fight about then?" Maia asked, curious as she clearly was remembering it wrong.

"That," Jordan replied awkwardly.

"You're confusing," she stated.

"I know," Jordan said.

"But not as much as business unions seem to confuse management," Maia sighed. She sensed he wasn't ready to explain just now, and that was okay.

"How so?" Jordan asked. She couldn't imagine he was actually interested in the subject of her boring class, though he did look like he was.

"See here," Maia said, moving her textbook over so he could see. "Unions restrict what management can do. In some cases, it's a lose-lose situation, but if there isn't a union, the management can take advantage of the staff; like unfair wages, no benefits, shitty hours, etc."

"Sounds to me like unions are a good thing," Jordan replied.

"Sometimes, but if the management is good, it really hinders them," Maia explained. "Like a muzzle on a well behaved dog vs. one for a biter."

"How often is management a well behaved dog though?" Jordan asked.

"Not nearly as often as it should be," Maia sighed. "There was this lady who asked a question in class the other day. She wanted to know why every boss she'd ever had sucked. She'd never seen an employer follow a single rule of management she'd learned in class. And the prof said that the vast majority of managers have no managerial training whatsoever."

"That's crazy," Jordan replied.

"I know right!" Maia exclaimed. "I am going to be a good manager who doesn't need a muzzle."

"You are going to be a brilliant manager," Jordan told her.

"Thanks," Maia smiled. She turned back to her homework after that, and tried to actually get something done, but she'd enjoyed talking to Jordan. Maybe next Sunday she'd speak up again.

"Maia," Jordan asked softly. She looked up, and was surprised to see that look in his eyes again, just like the one he'd had at the lake.

"Yeah," Maia whispered, slightly shocked by his expression.

"This is the fourth time we've met up like this," he said. "And I was wondering… I mean… has it changed anything?"

Why had she agreed to this in the first place? Maia knew she should have taken it all back weeks ago, and rescinded the Sunday meet up invitation the moment she'd given it, but she hadn't. Maia still hadn't identified what exactly had stopped her.

"I don't know," Maia said honestly. "This has been nice though. I mean, I like sitting and doing homework with you."

"Me too," Jordan replied, smiling.

"I think we can be friends," Maia said. "Like how Simon and Clary are friends again." Simon had texted her all about how great his first meet up with Clary had gone just hours after it ended. Maia found herself hoping it could be like that for them too.

"Weren't Clary and Simon friends as little kids?" Jordan asked.

"Yeah," Maia replied.

"I don't want to be rude, but we were never friends Maia," Jordan whispered. "I sat in the back of that class for months gazing at you until I finally did something about it."

"'You're cute'," Maia giggled at him. "I remember."

"You're beautiful," Jordan countered.

"I just don't understand what changed," Maia continued. "You act like that last fight didn't happen."

"That last fight doesn't matter," Jordan said with a shake of his head. "Because I'm here now."

"Of course it matters," Maia replied. They weren't yelling, but their voices were raised above a whisper now, so it felt a bit like yelling in a library setting. "It's why we broke up. It defines everything."

"If that fight hadn't happened," Jordan said quickly. "Do you think we would still be together?"

"That is neither here nor there," Maia replied. "We don't have a time machine."

"But if we did?" Jordan asked.

"I have no idea," Maia sighed. "And I don't want to play what if."

"Alright," Jordan said softly. "Sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry," Maia said, letting out a deep breath. "You know I don't like what if's."

"Yeah, I know," Jordan replied. They didn't need to say anything else. Jordan knew how long Maia had played the game. What if my parents didn't prioritize my brother? What if I was valued? What if they looked at me, instead of through me? What if this? What if that? They never helped anything. The world didn't work on what if's. It was better to focus on reality.

"Wasn't it you who told me to stop thinking in terms of what if's?" Maia asked after a moment as she remembered.

"Yeah," Jordan smiled back. "I think it was."

"I like being your friend Jordan," Maia said after a moment. "But that is all I can offer."

"I understand," Jordan said. "Friends it is then."

So... been a while huh? Lol at least by my standards for sure.

Let me tell you a little story...

Every time I send my beta a chapter I text her 'no rush' and every time she ignores me. Except this time. This chapter and the next one have been totally finished for days now and I have been enjoying a nice writing break while I binge watch an Australian drama on Netflix. lol Since the next chapter has a cliffhanger she is holding it hostage until I send her the following one... which is almost done. ^_^

Sneak Peek Chapter 85

"What do you think of this?" Izzy asked as she walked out of the changing room wearing a rather elegant tight black dress with silver detailing around the hem.

"Depends where you are wearing it," Magnus replied. "It's a nice third date dress." Izzy grinned at him, then her face fell. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Izzy replied, a smile plastered on her face again. There was something different about Izzy lately, but Magnus couldn't quite put his finger on what. He was starting to think it was his own perception of her that changed more than anything.

"Did Alec say he'd come or has he chickened out again?" Izzy asked.

"Alec had homework," Magnus laughed. "Which is code for I'd rather be hit repeatedly over the head with a text book than shop for clothes."

"His loss," Izzy said, tossing her head dramatically as she turned back into the change room. Magnus could hear the zipper of her dress as she changed into the next outfit, but he wasn't really listening. He was staring off into space at the wall. He couldn't help but wonder why Izzy had looked sad when he'd mentioned third dates and he was also wondering what Alexander was doing right now. Magnus was trying not to think about how much fun it would be cataloging French artifacts in a real museum display.

PS: The events of the next two chapters have been planned since chapter 57.