Quote of the Chapter:

"Don't wake me up 'cause I'm in love with all that you are
You make me see the truth in things, I think that you are" - Blue Dream, Jhene Aiko

Chapter Nineteen: (You make me feel) Young Again

Years had passed since she had last gone bowling; that was the first thought to fill Elizabeth's brain as she stared at the lit up bowling lanes, neon lights flashing overhead as they bounced off polished wooden floorboards. At least eight years had passed since she had last heard the smooth roll of a bowling ball against its lane, knocking into ten pins in a straight strike.

Last time she had been here, Elizabeth was fresh out of sixth form - celebrating straight As in her A-levels with a group of equally bubbly friends. Clumsily they had all clamoured inside, wobbling on heels or tripping in trainers, finished with getting shit-faced at the pub not too far away from the bowling alley. Barely eighteen, they had all jumped at the chance to legally drink. Looking for anything other than studying provisions, they had piled into the alley, seeking a game of tipsy tenpin.

In the end, Elizabeth had managed to win two straight games. Somehow, despite constantly falling over whenever she went to bowl, she had a natural knack for getting strikes. Within minutes she had gained a lead over her friends, owning a pretty decent streak of three strikes in a row - a turkey.

That victory felt so distant in Elizabeth's mind now. Eight years ago felt so distant in her mind. So much time had passed. So many events had occurred and added to her personal growth. Nevertheless, some things were still the same. Things like the memory of Meliodas and his jacket. Oh, his jacket! She still had that, hidden somewhere at the back of her closet. Oh wait, she had it now: across her shoulders, eight years old and still reminding her of him. Only, he was missing tonight. Something that Elizabeth had never thought she'd wanted to be a reality.

"So why did you really ask me to come here?" Mael casually asked, raising a brow as they watched others bowl.

After finishing up their game, the pair had come to the conclusion that Elizabeth was definitely the better bowler out of the two. With her knack for angling a good bowl and her somewhat supernatural luck, Mael had long forfeited any chances he believed he had at winning their game. Instead the pair had opted to order something to eat, sharing the classy order of some cheesy nachos, pizza with some salty fries and an energy drink that had a pretty decent probability of being discontinued at least a decade ago.

All night it had been this easy push and pull between them. Like eight years ago, when Elizabeth was carefree and young and drunk with freedom, they were simply going with the flow of the night. It had been so long that she had nearly forgotten how intoxicating that feeling could be.

"I wanted to hang out with you," Elizabeth shrugged, taking a sip of her caffeinated food-crime. Instantly, the chemicals hit her veins. Yep, this was definitely a discontinued brand. "You wanted to know me better and I wanted to give you a chance to do so outside of work."

"I feel like that's too good to be true," Mael chuckled, chomping down on a few fries. He watched as someone landed a strike, whooping wondrously as they ran about the lanes, declaring their success to the entire building. Grinning, Mael turned to Elizabeth, "Weren't you the one who said that newbies can't be let into your inner circle?"

Oh yes she was the one who said that. Filled with the problems and weights of yester-world's Elizabeth, she had in fact told Mael that newbies couldn't breach the inner circle so easily. Practical and sensible, Elizabeth always saw that policy as a way to prevent miscommunication and a false sense of mutual intentions. However now, filled with the dopamine of a victory and the buzzing energy of chemicals and caffeine, Elizabeth could find herself loosening up, welcoming the idea of letting more people into her inner circle.

Not many people knew what it was like within Elizabeth Liones' inner circle. Few people knew of the more let-loose and carefree side of her that came out after a few drinks and a good night out. Those who did all linked back to the person who unleashed that side of her in the first place - and right now she'd rather not think about him or them. She didn't want to burden them with her emotional shipwreck.

But Mael - he seemed willing to get to know her better. Just like the friends she had lost over the years, connections severed by travel and relocation and careers, he was eager and willing and carried this breath of fresh air that Elizabeth had not realised was missing from her life. A break from all the chaos.

"That was a past me," Elizabeth grinned, toying with the zipper on her borrowed jacket. Yeah, she should definitely give this back to Meliodas. He hadn't missed it in these past eight years, but she didn't need it anymore; she had a new coping mechanism. "A grumpy, tired past me. Present me, me right now, thinks that you should be awarded the chance to know her better."

"Hmmm," Mael hummed, seeming to contemplate her offer. Thoughtfulness claimed his features, almost as intense as the thoughtfulness that often invaded her own life. Nevertheless, he soon grinned, nudging her as he coyly mused, "So are you suggesting that we become friends, Elizabeth?"

Ha, so forward of him. Friendship, true friendship, would come after a good trial-run. Doped up on dopamine, Elizabeth may be feeling reckless, but she wasn't a complete sucker either. Not just anyone could breach her inner circle. No, they had prove that they could keep up with her, handle everything that came with the Elizabeth Liones package.

"If you mean work friends, then yes," Elizabeth nodded, adding an air of caution to her voice. Smiling, she then held up her half-empty can, initiating their first toast as work friends. "I think you'd make a great friend, Mael."

"Me too," Mael agreed, clinking his can against hers. As he smiled, his eyes caught hers, holding genuine gratitude. "To work friendship."

"To work friendship," Elizabeth whispered, suddenly feeling aghast.

There it was again - that gust of fresh air that had recently entered her mundane life. Unexpected, so unexpected, and yet relieving and welcoming all at the same time. Calmness, was that what she was feeling? A long-missed calmness that was often missing these days, was that what was filling the air now? Elizabeth wasn't too sure. All she knew, for certain, was that she liked this peculiar feeling. For some odd reason, it made her feel eighteen again, wedged in a booth at the back with her favourite person, sharing stolen kisses in the neon gloom.

Oh what she'd give to have those days come back.