Trying For A Storybook Ending Part 3

in the science class!"

"Liz..." Maria started.

"Tess just.... " I began. Too late.

"I was programmed to love him, but he always loved you. Now, you decide it's not only him you want but Kyle as well? You greedy bitch!"

Liz looked stunned but definitely ready for a comeback before she bagan tearing Tess' hair out. I had to stop this.... they were both saying things that they would regret later and I had no intention of explaining to Kyle why Tess was killed.

"Both of you shut up!! For crying out loud will you look at yourselves? Liz, your lying to save a future that doesn't exist yet and Tess you are so blind that you can't even see that you are the only girl on the planet that Kyle is looking at sending a card to. If you stopped pretending to pine for Max in front of him, he might know that he has got a chance with you"

Both of them looked at me like I was crazy as my words sunk in to the pair of them. Tess looked at Liz and with a soft voice asked her.

"You lied? To save the future? What did you lie about?"

Liz had tears in her eyes as she looked at me.

"How.... how did you know? Maria, you didn't?"

"She didn't, you did. At least your nightmares did.... you gave everything up because you wanted to save us all. I don't think you deserved to be punished for it. He still loves you you know?"

"I love him too.... "

"You need to tell him. I don't think Tess is going anywhere now are you? Especially as she's in love with her housemate.... "

"I'm.... not.... I mean, I like him, I care about him but.... I can't love a human...It's not natural.... we're too different. Besides we have a "de.... "

".... Destiny?"

Maria and me finish for her simultaneously with the same exasperated expression on our faces. I look at her right for the first time in months and do you know what I see? I see a scared girl who is terrified to let anyone get too close if it means she might one day get hurt. I look and I see that she's just like me.... and that's scary. She'll have fun with humans but to actually admit to loving them? "Don't go there, it's only pain that's down that path." I don't know what I can say to let her see that we can't have a destiny because we don't love those people in this life. That we can be happy finding our own soulmates. That some of us have already found them and they have nothing to do with "destiny". I want to explain all that but before I can Maria goes to Tess. I hope its not to whack her one.... this is already awkward enough.

"Tess, I'm not going to pretend that I didn't hate you for a long time I mean you're.... "

I want to cry but I don't have the energy to stop her from whatever she's about to say. Maybe she'll give her the shortened version of "10 things I hate about you" and we'll get away from here all in one piece.

".... manipulative, demanding, you have a totally one-track mind and you can be a total bitch. But, despite that, just now was the first time I think I could actually invisage us as friends, the four of us. You aren't the cold-hearted cow you pretend to be.... and your barrage of insults at my best friend showed that you have emotions.... even if they are all angry. And that you care for Valenti. I know you don't want this destiny crap anymore than the rest of us but that you were told from you were whatever age that you and Max were "meant to be". Can I ask you? What's the point of being together if you are making 4 people miserable? Don't you think you deserve to be with someone who at least wants to be with you?.... Besides, girlfriend, we need you to level the group dynamics. 4 guys and 3 girls mean that we never get to choose the movie."

I want to hug Maria. Tess is crying at Maria's words and she even manages a soft laugh at her joke. Maria gently pulls her into a quick embrace before releasing her as Tess begins to speak.

"So.... Liz? You didn't sleep with Kyle? Why did you say you did?"

"To save you all. In...in the future you left because Max and me were together. The skins came and...and killed you all and because you weren't there they.... they won. Max, in the future, came and told me that I had to make sure he didn't love me in the present.... to save the future.... I knew he'd never forgive me for betraying him. And it worked. He.... he has.... hasn't... "

Poor Liz, it must have been killing her to tell everyone that she didn't sleep with Kyle. That she didn't betray Max.

"Liz...he forgave you a long time ago. He could never not love you."

I'm saying the words but I know she isn't hearing me through her sobs. Tess walks over to her and puts her arms around her shoulders.

"Liz? Max will always love you. I'm so, so sorry, I caused all this. But let me make it a little better. I don't love Max anymore than you love Kyle. And he doesn't love me...he'll never love me.... it'll always be you."

"You think?"

"I know! So, let's make a deal. I will trade you one slightly emotionally scarred leader and you can give me one romantically challenged football player. And I swear I'll stick around indefinitely... "

I look at Maria who is smiling like a Cheshire cat and I can't help but stifle a laugh. This was such a great idea by me. I'll treat myself later. Liz begins to laugh and her and Tess begin to whisper and hug. Things are going great. Maria walks over towards me and throws her arms around me. I pretend to be shocked when she smiles and says.

"I thought you might be feeling a bit left out...of the huggy action... "

I fake a scowl and head back towards the jeep as I call to them.

"C'mon people, get your butts in here so that we can get at least a couple of hours shopping done."

I see Maria making a face at the other two as they begin to laugh. I could kill her if I didn't like her so much. I hear her talking to the other two as they climb in the back.

"So...what should I do to Michael!! Tess, you'd fry him for me now that we're friends right?"

We finally get going, we've only got a couple of hours to get back and get things ready, but you know that feeling you get when you know things are going to be good? I have that, and I know that things are going to be great tonight for at least 3 of us. Me? I don't know yet.... that future's still cloudy. I guess I'll find out tonight.

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