| PART 21 I smile. I can’t believe she’s here standing in front of me. I don’t release her hand, afraid she might disappear. She casts her eyes downward and shyly asks, “Do you want to walk with me?” I laugh. How can she think I wouldn’t want to? I gently squeeze her hand and say, “Lead the way.” She smiles and escorts me toward the exit. Maria’s voice stops us saying, “Liz, if you leave with him our friendship is over.” I turn towards Maria and open my mouth to speak, but Liz is faster. “I heard those rumors.” She saunters over to Maria and says, “And I know who started them. How could you, Maria? We were friends. You let a guy come between us, why? I’ve always let you have your way even when I didn’t agree with it, but when the time comes for you to step aside all you do is hurt me. Why?” Maria shakes her head and says, “You knew how I felt about him. You were the one who never wanted a relationship, but the one guy I had feelings for you steal him away from me.” Maria points towards me. I look down. I’m not sure if I should say something or let Liz handle it. *********************************************************************** I can’t believe her. She’s supposed to be my friend, so how is it so easy for her to turn on me? “I didn’t take him away from you. You never had him.” I try to stay calm because of our lifelong friendship. I just want her to understand how much I need him in my life. I glance over my shoulder and see Michael watching us. He’s probably wondering what he should do. I walk over to him and softly say, “You can wait for me outside, if you’re not comfortable.” He shakes his head and replies, “I’m here to support you. Just let me know when you need my input.” I nod and turn my attention back to Maria. “If you didn’t hang all over him like that promising sex, I would have had a chance,” she says bitterly. Michael blurts out, “If she hadn’t? Every time you were around me, I felt violated. You were the one who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.” Tess laughs. I narrow my eyes at her and say, “What do you find so funny? You also need a lesson in keeping your hands to yourself.” Tess snorts and says, “What?! Are you going to be the one that teaches me?” \ I walk toward her never taking my eyes off her. She stands her ground until I’m near her. She averts her eyes and backs up. “What’s wrong, Tess? Where are the snippy comments now?” She holds her head high never meeting my gaze. “If you think I’m scared….” She trails off when we’re only inches apart. I sneer and whisper, “If I were you, Tess, I would be scared?” She gulps and I snicker. “You better watch your back. That’s a warning not a threat.” “And you picked her over me,” Maria yells. I look over in her direction and watch as she slowly approaches Michael. “Did you know your girlfriend is unpredictable, almost unstable?” Maria says. “Shut up!!” I yell. I can’t believe she’s saying this. Maria glowers at me and says, “You need a lesson in humility. I figured since you’re not being honest with your boyfriend I should tell him about your past.” I shake my head and say, “What happened to you, Maria? I just want to understand why you’re treating me this way.” Maria laughs then stomps in my direction. She gets right in my face and says, “Liz, how is it that you always get the guys first? I’m always in competition with you and it’s starting to bother me.” “What are you talking about? You’re the one they’re attracted to. I’ve always been second.” Maria paces around me. She shakes her hand and says, “First there was Chris. I had the hugest crush on him, but guess who he liked?” I shake my head. I didn’t know where this was going so I wait for her to answer. “You. Then there was Dave, but he was interested in--That’s right, Liz, you. There was John, Paul, Robbie, Doug and now Michael. All of them excluding Michael only came to me to attain information about you. I was always second in the male population's eyes. I never understood that because it’s not like you’re sexy or even that pretty, but I guess it’s that whole innocent persona you give off.” “I didn’t know. You can’t blame be for that, but I do have strong feelings for Michael and I just wish you’d accept that. I’m not going to give him up now that I know he wants me in his life as well.” Maria shoves her finger in my face and says, “Of course not. Why would I think you’d be unselfish for once in your life?” Michael comes and stands by me. I lean on him feeling drained. Maria gives me this fierce look and slaps me with such force that my head slams into Michael’s chest. I touch the spot where her hand probably will leave a mark. I lunge her, but Michael holds me back. “You stupid bitch. How dare you do that? Don’t you ever do that again or else…” “Or else what Liz.” She looks over at Michael and says, “Now you can witness how unbalanced she really is.” I desperately try to extract myself from Michael, but his grip on me is firm. “What are you going to do, Liz? Are you going to drive us into a tree again? Or maybe this time it won’t be a tree, but maybe over a cliff. That might be fun, huh?” I relax and feel Michael’s hold on me loosen. I chance a glance at Michael, but he looks emotionless. I fear what he might be thinking of me right now. He probably thinks I’m some lunatic. I pull myself from Michael’s grasp and my heart sinks when he lets go willingly. I walk over to Maria and say, “Are you happy? Does revenge make you feel less bitter? Do you feel better about yourself? I just want to know, because I’ve tried to make that day up to you for my entire life and it didn’t mean a thing to you. I guess I was the stupid one for thinking we were best friends. How long have you been holding this in and if you despised me so much why did you even continue being friends with me? I’m curious, so please explain.” Maria laughs bitterly. She shakes her head and says, “You could never make that day up to me, Liz. I realize that now.” I close my eyes. I feel my eyes flooding with tears, but I refuse to cry in front of Maria and Tess. “I was grieving. I didn’t have anyone. Everything in my life I cherished turned out to be …..” I stop to clear my voice. The pain in my heart is suffocating. Michael places a hand on my shoulder and I shrug it off. I take a deep breath and say, “Everything in my life I cherished turned out to be a lie. I didn’t know who I was. Nobody in my family wanted me. You weren’t even supposed to be there.” “But I was. Alex called me asking if you were there. He was worried about you, so I left in search of you.” I turn my back to everyone as loneliness encases me. “I just didn’t..” I turn around with a cold stare to Maria. I shake my head and slowly back away. I don’t need to explain myself to anyone. I don’t even have to be here. I turn around and run. I run as fast as I can to get away from everything and everybody. ************************************************************************ I walk over to Liz because she looks distressed. I don’t know how she held on this long; I think I might have snapped by now. When she leans on me Maria smacks her. I glare at Maria, but I grasp on to Liz with all my strength before she can lunge for Maria. I have to tighten my grip on her because she possesses more strength then I realized. Catching the tail end of Maria’s ranting saying, “What are you going to do Liz? Are you going to drive us into a tree again? Or maybe this time it won’t be a tree, but maybe over a cliff. That might be fun, huh?” I feel Liz settle down and I release her. What is Maria talking about? I place a hand on Liz’s shoulder and she rejects it. I watch as she gathers her composure and runs away. I go after her, but Maria stops me. “If I were you, I wouldn’t get involved. She may harm you as well.” I give her a confused look. She shrugs her shoulders and says, “If you don’t want to take heed in my warning then there’s nothing I can do for you.” I shake my head and dash in the direction Liz went. I don’t see her anywhere. I go to her house first. Alex opens the door. “Is Liz here?” Alex shakes his head and I turn to leave but he grabs my shoulder and says, “Tell me what’s wrong.” I bow my head and tell him about the scene at school. Alex’s face pales. He grabs his keys and runs to his car with me following close behind. “What happened? What was Maria talking about?” Alex ignores my questions as he looks out the window. After a few minutes of silence he says, “That’s something Liz has to tell you.” I nod and continue to search for Liz. I’m starting to worry. “She couldn’t get to far on feet, right?” Alex runs his hand over his face clearly stressed. “She’s a fast runner.” Then suddenly Alex makes an unexpected U-turn. “I think I might know where she is.” He speeds in the direction of I don’t know, hoping and praying to God that she’s there. She had just forgiven me and I'm not about to let her slip from my grasp. Alex stops in front of a cemetery and hops out of the car. I try to keep up with him, but he moves fast. We both stop when we see a crumpled Liz lying in front of a tombstone. Alex rushes to her and she jumps into his arms. I watch as brother and sister comfort each other. Feeling like an intruder, I stay where I am. |