Hey Guys, I'm back!
Wow, thanks for all the feedback:
Flyaway Raven - thanks for reading, I'm glad you enjoyed the part. Hopefully this one is a little more cheerful...sort of...
Begonia9508 - Nice to be back...although I'm still a little sketchy at the moment I'm afraid. She's only trying to do what she thinks is best, unfortunately, she's rather stubborn about admiting she's wrong... But yeah, Max and Liz need to make that decision themselves.
Alien614 - I'm back... I'm glad you like Isabel. I have to say, it wasn't something I planned, the friendship between her and Liz, but that does seem to be how it's working out doesn't it?
Emz80m - I'm so pleased to see you're still enjoying the story, thanks for sticking with it.
roswell3053 - I'm back...better late than never right? Maria does mean well you know, but you're right, at the moment she's just upsetting people more...maybe that needs to be pointed out to her, rather than just asking her to leave them be... Just a thought...
Dream Weaver - Thanks. Heart wrenching? - honestly, I have to admit I've struggled to write it sometimes, and not because of not knowing what to write, so you're right there. I'm glad you know that Maria is just trying her best, and I have to admit, this Isabel that's developed is certainly growing on me every chapter
, I'm glad you like her too.
ceg - Thanks for reading, here's more. I hope you continue to enjoy.
Flamehair - Thanks for sticking with it Flamehair, I'm glad you're still enjoying it.
dusk - Aren't all stories imaginative
As for Alex and Serina, she was at the uni he stayed at when Tess was mindwarping him. They got to know one another and became good friends. More details will follow I hope, but that's what I've tried to provide so far.
paper - Michael and Kyle watching the kids...? I'm thinking that's not going to work too well. Kyle maybe, but Thomas has already shown he hates Michael... I think it's best to assume that the scene with Max and Serina was set at a slightly different time than the one with the girls, so that either Liz, Serina, or one of the other girls would be able to watch them...
behrluv32 - I'm glad you're enjoying it, even if it is sad. As for Liz and Max, well they're living 'together' - with all the others too of course - so they can't avoid one another forever really can they? This next might help, hope you enjoy it.
Ellie - Yay, you're still reading
I'm so pleased. Thanks for sticking with this. I like the way you put it about Maria too. You're right, it doesn't seem as though she has finished grieving for her friend, which is highly likely considering, and that can only be making things harder and more complicated on her side as well as Max and Liz'. I'm glad you approve of Serina and Max talking, I don't know why, it just seemed the right thing to do, and Isabel and Liz, well, you know how stories sometimes have their own life - this is one of those, the story led me there, and I know it's not the usual friendship, and it might not be what I was expecting when I started I have to admit, but I think it works... Of course I think that Maria and Liz will have a friendship too, but perhaps not quite that I had first imagined...
Well, Nano didn't exactly work out for me - I was sick part way through November and have never really got back into it so I figured I'd get this ready for you a bit sooner than intended since there's no way I'm going to make it now. I'm also going through something at work at the moment and I think everything that I've been dealing with all year is finally getting on top of me. I'm going to be honest guys, I'm not doing well, I have some big decisions to make at the moment and while I'm trying to persist with my writing, I'm not going to say this is the best, I hope it won't disappoint you all.
Also, as an aside, if you have notifications on this fic, you'll probably want to check on it again in a couple of days because I'm going to ask if it can be pruned up to this chapter after I save my feedback over the weekend.
Thanks again for all the feedback and encouragement.
I hope you enjoy the new part.
~Kat~
Chapter 52
“Sorry, we’re just closing up…” Liz didn’t even bother looking up from the table she was wiping as she heard the bell above the door ring. It was five past midnight, and she was more than ready to get back to the hotel. One thing she didn’t need was more customers...
“Can’t I even get a cherry coke…?”
Her head shot up sharply at the sound of the familiar male, her mouth open in shock at his unexpected appearance.
Reading the expression on her face, Max gave a small shrug as he moved further into the diner. “Sorry, didn’t mean to shock you…” He apologised softly.
The brunette shook her head quickly. “What, oh no, it’s fine… I just…” Her voice trailed off as she realised she didn’t really know what to say…
Max gave a wry smile, “Wasn’t expecting me?” He nodded. “Yeah, I know that…but Serina asked me to call by…” He paused a moment, boosting himself up onto a stool at the counter as he looked back at her again now. “She said she was supposed to be meeting you…”
Liz nodded awkwardly. “Yeah…just with Maria and Isabel not being around… You know you’ve said you don’t want us walking home alone…” She paused a moment, her eyes widening in alarm as his words began to sink in. “Did something happen to Rina, is she-“
“She’s fine…” Max nodded again quickly, offering her a reassuring smile before explaining, “She just got a call at work, apparently Maria thought that Thomas was getting worse and when Rina heard she wanted to go back and see to him…I’m sure you understand…”
“Oh, yeah, of course…” The young mother immediately seemed to relax, understanding instantly why her friend hadn’t been able to meet her now. Maria had come down with a flu-like virus earlier that week and Thomas had seemed a little rough last night. Serina had been uncertain about even going to work that day, so it was little surprise that she had wanted to go home at the first sign of trouble… Liz looked back at Max now. “You didn’t have to come and meet me though, you could just have called…” She shrugged slightly. “I mean I can look after myself you know…”
Max nodded, the edge of his lips turning up in something of a smile it seemed. “I’m not suggesting you can’t, but it’s just better not to go about alone…” He reiterated his earlier instructions in a round about way, although he knew she was probably right… That rule had been more aimed at ensuring that no one without powers went about alone, and of course that didn’t apply to her… She had full control of her powers from what he had seen, and wasn’t afraid to use them if needed.
Still, he couldn’t help feeling that he would be happier seeing her back to the hotel, and it wasn’t as though he had been forced to come out of his way was it? The diner was on his normal route back afterall…
Raising an eyebrow in response to his words, Liz didn’t say anything more but instead simply nodded and seemed to accept the argument. It just wasn’t worth arguing over…and it wasn’t as though she really minded, she just didn’t want to be a bother…
“Seriously, it’s no trouble Liz, I don’t mind…” Max added, almost as though reading her mind.
The young brunette swallowed, busying herself again for a moment with the table. It was times like this which made things so difficult. It had been fine up till that point, and then such an innocent comment… It was exactly what she needed to be told, and stupid as it might sound, that was the problem…
He knew her so well, and yet, at the same time, he didn’t… There were times at which it was as though he was reading her mind, or alternatively that she was doing the same… It seemed almost as though he knew her better than she did herself, and yet she knew that in truth, it was someone else he had known…
It wasn’t his fault anymore than it was hers of course, and it wasn’t as though the things they said weren’t true, but it was just…strange…
“Are you okay Liz…?” Max watched her as she moved about in silence. Her eyes appeared to have glazed over, as though she was a long way away in her mind…
His words brought the back to the present, pulling her out of her thoughts. “W-what, oh yeah, I’m fine…” She swallowed and bit down on her lip. It wasn’t fair to be upset afterall, it wasn’t as though Max would have been intending to do it, it was just something which…happened…
Trying to push the discomfort from her mind, she turned to look back around. “I just need to finish up here and then cash up…shouldn’t be long now…” She assured him in a soft, even tone.
“Can I help…?”
She looked over at him in surprise, clearly not having expected that. “W-what? I mean, r-really, that’s not necessary…” She struggled over her words, struggling to make any kind of intelligible response it seemed.
He nodded slowly, “Maybe not, but that’s not what I asked…” Max pointed out softly. He shrugged. “Afterall, the sooner you’re done, the sooner we get back to the hotel right?”
She couldn’t argue with the logic in that. “Y-yeah, I guess…”
“So is there anything I can do…?” He gestured around the diner before bringing his gaze to rest once more on her.
Hesitating for a moment, Liz then began to nod slowly. “You could finish wiping down the tables for me, if you’re sure you don’t mind…that way I can do the cashing up while you’re doing that…” The brunette suggested hesitantly. “But only if you want to, I can manage fine on my own…” She hurried to add, not wanting to feel as though she was palming her work off on someone else… Max had been working just as hard as her all evening she was sure, and now he had finished, he must be tired and would have every right just to want to sit and wait.
“I offered didn’t I…?” Max couldn’t help giving a small smile of amusement as he held out his hand for the cloth. “Do you know how to take yes for an answer…?”
Liz’s cheeks reddened at that. “I-I guess…yes…thanks…” She returned the smile awkwardly, handing over the cloth before moving back towards the counter where she opened the till to empty and cash up.
**********
“Maria…?” Serina knocked gently on the door to the room Maria had been sharing with Michael after checking on a dozing Thomas and seeing him back asleep. The little boy would likely sleep for some time now so she thought she’d see if the other girl wanted some company…
“Oh, hey Rina, come in…” Maria greeted the young woman with as much of a smile as she could muster thanks to her blocked up nose. Her head felt like it weighed a hundred tons it seemed. “Sorry, I just…” She was forced to break off as she reached for another tissue and blew her nose loudly into it.
The older of the two women shook her head with a small smile of sympathy. “Oh, not at all, nothing you apologise for you know…” She assured her with another smile as she came to perch on the side of the bed.
Maria pulled a face as she buried her nose in the tissue again just before a huge sneeze exploded. Blowing her tender nose, she wiped it with the tissue and then looked back at the other girl as she lowered it once more. Her eyes were watering, her nose was red and raw, and her hair had seen better days for sure. She knew she looked a mess, and she felt worse…
“You look rough…” Serina’s words might have sounded insulting, but the concerned tone she used showed they were meant as anything but.
She nodded, pulling a face. “Kinda…how’s Thomas…?”
The young mother smiled softly in response to the question, shaking her head with a shrug. “He’s got a cold for sure, but it’s nothing too serious, a couple of days in bed and he’ll be fine!”
“That’s good…I’m sorry for calling you like that, I just t-”
Serina shook her head again quickly, holding up a hand to stop the other girl. “Maria seriously, I would FAR rather you call me than not…” She gave a sheepish smile. “I know it’s not the best for our finances, but I don’t want to leave my boy when he’s sick…even if I know it’s not serious…”
The younger of the girls nodded. “Okay, I just remembered that you were supposed to be meeting Liz, with Isabel having the night off an all…” She pulled a bit of a face. It certainly wasn’t ideal, Isabel with night off, and her off sick both on the same day, but Isabel had pulled a shift that afternoon, so there was no way she could be expected to cover.
“That’s right, but it’s cool, I asked Max to do it…” Serina responded easily. It was the one reason she had hesitated about wanting to go back and see to Thomas if she was honest, but she had thought about it carefully, and while the substitute she had arranged might not be ideal, she knew that Liz would understand.
“Really and he agreed?” Suddenly Maria seemed twice as awake and alert as she had been a moment earlier and Serina certainly didn’t miss that.
“Yes…” She responded a little warily, only too aware of how, although with the best of intentions, Maria had been trying to push the two together. “I just wanted to make sure she got home safe you know…and it was on his way back…” Serina explained her reasons in a logical manner.
“What, oh yeah, of course…” Maria nodded but she didn’t fool the older woman for one second.
If she had even been listening enough to hear her it would be a miracle…“Maria…?” She looked at her carefully. “I really think that you should leave them be for a bit…”
“I wasn-“ She shook her head and began.
“Yes, you were!” Serina interrupted before she could finish the denial. “Maria, everyone knows what you’re trying to do, including Liz and Max, and right now, from everything I’ve seen, neither is ready for anything like that…” She knew she meant well, but meaning well, and getting it right were two different things…
“I just think they would be good for one another… They’ve been through the same things an-“
“And that’s precisely why they need time…” The older of the two women interrupted again as she tried to explain. She didn’t want to come across as being a busybody, really she didn’t, but Liz was her friend. Max certainly seemed like a nice enough guy now she was getting to know him, but both had been through a huge amount, and that wasn’t going to disappear overnight… “This has to be their decision and no one elses…” She pressed gently, hoping desperately that some of the message was getting across this time. Maria was a wonderful person, and so enthusiastic, but accepting she was wrong, as with so many people, didn’t seem to be her forte.
Perhaps surprisingly though, her words gave Maria pause for thought and she seemed to think over what she was saying. “Isabel agrees they could help one another you know…” She commented softly although for the first time in a while, she wasn’t quite sure she knew where she was going with it…
Serina nodded. “Yeah, I think so too, but pushing them together isn’t helping Maria, they have to realise it by themselves, because trying to force them like this, is only causing further hurt…”
“I don’t mean to…” The younger girl suddenly looked extremely subdued.
“I know that, and so do they, but right now, if you really want to help, I would suggest leaving them, giving them time, and letting them work things out on their own…” Serina offered a small reassuring smile as she reached out to touch her shoulder.
There was another silence, before Maria finally nodded again in acceptance. She sighed and looked over at the other girl. “How did you become so wise…?” She questioned softly.
Serina smiled before responding with a single word, “Experience…” She shrugged it off and reached for a brush which lay on the bedside table. “Now, how about I help you do your hair…I know it always makes me feel better when I’m sick…” She suggested softly with another small smile.
**********
“Okay, I’m done here…” Liz announced as she locked the cash away carefully and grabbed a cloth just to wipe down the counter. Tossing the dirty cloth into the laundry basket when she was done, she smiled as she walked up to Max who had seated himself on one of the stools after he finished wiping down the tables.
“Yeah? Okay well how about we get out of here then?” He questioned as he rose from his seat quickly, picking up her coat which hung on the back of a chair nearby and holding it out to her without even thinking about it.
“Thanks…” She smiled and nodded, accepting the help offered without question as she slid her arms through the sleeves and grabbed her bag from the floor. One last look around to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, and then she offered another nod as nod as they headed out of the diner together.
The two stepped out onto the street in silence and then stopped while Liz turned back to lock up before continuing down the road. Neither said anything for a few moments, and then, as they stopped at some lights, waiting to cross the road, Liz turned to look up at Max, “I just want to thank you…for helping me, and calling by you know…” She commented softly, offering a small smile.
Max shrugged. “Nothing to thank me for, I was happy to do it…” He responded evenly.
Their conversation was put on hold for a moment then, as the lights turned to red and the two focused on crossing safely before continuing.
“Well thanks anyway…” Liz ran a hand through her hair a little nervously as they turned the corner. “It was nice of you…”
The young man with her grinned. “Well, I’m a nice guy, or so I’m told…” He winked.
Sticking her tongue out playfully, Liz was about to retort, but then stopped, clamming up as she found herself thinking of a similar conversation she had in the past.
Her sudden reluctance didn’t go unnoticed by Max, who stopped and turned, reaching out to touch her arm. “Liz, are you okay…?”
“What, oh yeah I’m fine, it’s just…” The brunette trailed off, shaking her head, not really sure how to explain. “Sometimes you just sound so like him…it’s difficult to remind myself that you’re not…” She swallowed and looked at him. “I’m sorry, I’ve been complaining about exactly the same thing, and I know it’s not fair, I just can’t…”
“You can’t help it, I know, and I also know it’s not intentional…” He interrupted her, his voice soft and soothing in tone as he nodded again. “In some ways we know one another better than we know ourselves maybe, and in others…”
“We’re still strangers…” Liz finished for him softly. She nodded sadly. “T-thank you…”
“It’s okay…I do understand…” Max responded, watching her for a moment as she looked up, her eyes staring deep into the dark night sky.
“I know…” She bit down on her lip as she looked back over at him, shaking her head again as she tried to get a hold of herself. “I’m sorry, it just seems so crazy, I mean I don’t even know what your favourite band was when you finished school, or who your favourite author Is, or who your favourite teacher was…yet I look at you, and I feel as though I should…” The brunette tried to explain, her gaze resting on him for a few moments, taking in his hair, and eyes, and hands…
He listened for a moment and nodded. “You’re right, we don’t know the first thing about one another’s lives really, and maybe it’s time we put that right…”
“What do you mean…?” Liz looked at him in surprise, unable to hide her curiosity despite everything. Even though it was hard, she couldn’t deny that she would like that, however hard it might be…
“Well, it’s so easy to think of one another as someone that we’ve lost because we don’t know each other for who we are right…?” Max tried to explain.
“Y-yeah…I guess…” She nodded slowly.
“So let’s talk about ourselves, share experiences…” He paused a moment and looked at her, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand absently. “I mean it Liz, I want to get to know you… I want to know what makes this amazing young woman tick…” He winked at her playfully. “Maybe we can even be friends…?”
Drawing in a deep breath, Liz nodded again, biting down on her lip and then managing something of a small smile as she looked back at him, so young for once, all the maturity beyond her years gone at this moment, leaving only a young, vulnerable teenager who had experienced all that loss and suffered so much… “I-I’d like that…” She responded in little more than a whisper, chewing nervously on her lip as she continued to stand with him.
Max smiled back and nodded. “Good…because I’d like that too…”