Circumstances

Chapter Eight


Michael was up on the deck with Liz behind her room. They weren't doing anything, just kind of sitting there in comfortable silence. They had talked about how to tell Maria and Max, because they didn't want to sneak around anymore. What was wrong with the two of them wanting to date each other? Maria was dating that James guy, and Max was moving on with Tess. Michael didn't see any problem with it at all. then again, there was the whole friend code. The rule where you never date someone that your friend has a crush on, loves, or dated. The way Max had treated Liz though, still irked him. It was like he was under
some kind of spell, because he'd always thrown caution to the wind when it came to Liz Parker.
He looked over at her and he couldn't help but grin at her. the things that they'd done together were great to him. It was still a little strange to be thinking of Liz in the girlfriend way, because the past and everything. He was about to say just what he was
thinking, when she spoke first.

" Maybe we should just come right out and say that we've been seeing each other in a non-friend way, and just say it." Michael glanced over at her, and knew that she was right. They shouldn't try and hide the fact that they'd been seeing each other. It was going to come out one way or another anyway, so it was better for Max and Maria to hear it from them then to hear it from someone else. Michael stood up and walked over to where Liz was sitting, and motioned for her to take his hand. She smiled gently at him, and when she put her hand in his, he pulled her up to him. She put her arms around his neck and leaned into him. They stood like that for a long time before they began to talk again. Liz lifted her head slightly to look up at Michael.

" Do you think we're doing the right think, Michael?" He really didn't know what to say. It wasn't as if they hadn't tried to NOT touch each other or go crazy everytime they were around each other. This was Liz Parker, the love of Max Evans life, yet he was with someone else. Ever since he had gotten to know Liz, he'd sort of envied Max, because she felt for him what he felt for her. He had loved Maria to a frenzy, but she was so quirky and she loved to argue and nag at you. Plus, Maria liked to pretend that things were normal even if they had a really huge problem. Liz wasn't like that at all. Whenever they were facing something really bad, she was there trying to find a solution to it. So, yes he thought they were making the right decision in being with each other, and to tell Max and Maria. Everyone else already knew about the two of the, well except Tess. He sat her back down, and he wanted to get this over with, because they were running around in circles with their thinking.

" Yes Liz, we are making the right decision. We've tried to stay away from each other, but it really didn't help. They have a right to know about how we feel about each other." Liz grinned and kissed him lightly.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Tess had called absolutely everyone together for this private meeting about the two people who weren't there. She'd called Isabel first, who had gotten Alex and Kyle there. She called Maria, even though she knew she didn't like her. Now everyone was there minus Liz and Michael. Everyone seemed to be looking at her as if they were impatient to know why she called them all together. Max was looking at her as if she'd grown an extra head, because she'd specifically told them that the meeting was about Michael and Liz, which is why they weren't there. Kyle scowled at Tess, and spoke his opinion of the meeting.

" Tess, what the hell is going on here? I've got some stuff that I'd much rather be doing than sitting in this meeting." Tess glared over at Kyle. To think that she'd actually had a crush on him at one point. She took a deep breath, and began her little speech.

" I saw Michael and Liz coming out of the eraser room together, and they were holding hands. I don't know if this means anything, I just thought we should look into this, because it looks kinda like they're dating now." Alex surprised everyone by speaking up.

" What would that have anything to do with us, Tess? If they're dating, then it wouldn't be any of our business, and certainly there wouldn't be cause for alarm, like you're trying to make it seem." Tess huffed, because she'd known that her friends wouldn't see this as a threat.

" Well, I just don't think they'd be good for each other is all. Not to mention, why haven't they said anything to us about it? Why be all sneaky about it?" Isabel glanced over at Max, and saw the shock on his face, not to mention, Maria's. She looked away, because she wasn't going to incriminate herself just yet. Kyle was the one to speak up next, not giving Alex the chance.
" Tess, Max is dating you and Maria is dating James. They probably just didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings,which I can't blame them for that. I still don't understand why you're trying to start a fight about it. It's none of our business if they want to date." Maria stood up and started to pace.

" Liz is my best friend, Tess, and she woulnd't do something like that. I do have to say that the three of you don't seem to be shocked, disgusted, or surprised, though. You knew that they were dating didn't you?" Isabel sighed, and looked at her brother once more. It was time to come clean.

" Yes, Michael confided in me about it, just as Liz confided in Alex about it. Kyle just figured it out is all. I do have to agree with Kyle, though. There is no reason why there should be hurt feelings . Everyone has moved on from the past, so I don't see any harm in their relationship. The reason they haven't said anything is because Liz was afraid Maria would get upset with her, and Michael felt Max would be angry with him. If you have a problem with this, then you need to talk to them, because they were going to tell you tonight. If I were you, I'd wish them luck, because they've been nothing but nice to you about your latest relationships." Tess chuckled at that statment.

" Liz hasn't been nice or cordial about mine and Max's relationship, Tess. She's been downright nasty to me, and you know it!" Alex stood up and headed for the door. Not before turning to look at Tess one more time.

" That's because ever since you've gotten here, you've made it known that Max was yours, and you started this war between Liz and you. She tried to befriend you just like the rest of us did, but you were the one who was nasty. I'm leaving because I'm not going to take part in talking about my friends. They haven't done anything wrong, so I don't see a problem. Goodbye to all." Isabel and Kyle left just after Alex. Maria had been silently crying, and she looked over at Max, who was standing up and talking to Tess.

" I don't know why you felt you had to do that, but I'm going to find out. Right now though, I'm going to talk to Liz and Michael." He left with Maria following, and he was headed towards the Crash Down.