Late night in an ally way

Another month or so goes by and the Christmas spirit is in the air. Lizzy wonders how strong the spirit of Christmas is for it to survive with the human race nearly being wiped out. Yet people aren't as greedy here as they were back when she was born. She remembers story's of a day called black Friday and people getting hurt. One of her relatives even talked about being in a fist fight over a doll that promoted love and peace.

Not here though. Kids get their toys and such but it's more focused on spending time together. Since most board games are electronic now people can pick up where they left off when the sore loser of the family "flips" the digit game table. Once one flips the table they can't rejoin til the next game starts.

.     .     .     .     .

"I'm going to tell you something someone said to me not too long ago." Lizzy says to Stacy. Lizzy is straddling the bench at a school cafeteria table so she can face Stacy. It's been awhile since they talked.

"Yea what's that?" She asks with a little bit of a sneer in her voice.

"It's about time you stopped moping." Lizzy says concerned. Sadly her face comes across as smug.

"Moping." Stacy is on the defense.

"How could you say that?!" A girl with geneticly altered pink hair says. Lizzy believes her name is Tiara. "Her boyfriend comes and picks her up from school at least once a week! Stacy always smiles when talking about him!"

"And you're telling me that it's a genuine smile? From where I was sitting even I could tell it was forced." Lizzy tilts her head a touch in the direction she was sitting.

"What do you want?" Stacy growls.

Lizzy leans in to whisper in her ear. "For you to be happy." Lizzy stands and leaves knowing that her words will sink in deeper this way.

"What's her deal?!" Tiara says a touch loudly.

"Just leave her be. You can't take her in a fight." Stacy tells Tiara.

Lizzy has been missing Stacy a bit. It's been gnawing at her for weeks seeing Stacy put on an act for people. She has been popular thanks to her personality but something isn't right here. Today Lizzy felt she had to say something. Anything to get Stacy to talk to her.

School hours crawl by as winter break ticked ever so slowly closer. Even the teachers were watching the clocks waiting for the bell to ring.

Bing bong bing bong. 

Cheers let out and almost everyone bolted for the doors. Lizzy had a slower pace, she loves her animals but she does not love the cold. Outside of the school she sees Stacy getting on an electro bike. The bike wraps her in black with a pink accent suit. If it weren't for the suit no one would be surviving on an electro bike this time of the year.

"Looks like I'm avoiding the office today." Lizzy says to Karen.

"Why is that?" Karen, who is still "waking up" from being powered down all day.

"So my words will continue to rub on her." Lizzy then fills Karen in on her conversation. Karen agrees to let that conversation marinate.

Lizzy has moved onto working with cattle. Younger nine month olds but they are still some 900 pounds of stubborn. Her routine is pet Bob from the gate then go halter the nine month olds, tie them where they can't hurt themselves or others and then brush the dirt from their coats. Clean fluffy coats keep animals warmer in the winter.

It's getting late so Lizzy let's the cows go. Some stand around wanting just a few more scratches. Lizzy looks at her fingers coated in hair oils and dirt. She begins rubbing her hands together to watch the dirt and grease clump up and fall off her hands. The build up on her hands are gone but she smells bad from work too so she heads home.

After a shower Lizzy notices some of Stacy's makeup that she really likes is getting low. She keeps drying her hair and gets closer to Stacy's side of the bathroom. Stacy isn't home yet. She grabs the one jar.

"Hey Karen, can you come here?" Lizzy calls out.

"What could you possibly want with me in here?" Karen barely nudges open the door and is hoovering in the door way.

"Where can I buy this at?" Lizzy asks holding up the jar.

"Oh brother." Karen says. "There is a store a bit aways from here. I can place an order for it to be de-"

"Can we go buy some tonight? I need to tell Stacy I'm sorry for being mean." 

"Ugh."

"Thanks Karen." Lizzy smiles and walks past her to get a heavier sweatshirt and to throw some leggings on under her jeans.

After a tram ride and a bit of a walk Lizzy makes it to the store. Soon after Lizzy realizes why the makeup was getting low. Makeup is not only time consuming but expensive.

"You have the money, you don't need to cringe at the price." Karen comments.

"I don't have that mu-" Karen cuts Lizzy off by very low key showing Lizzy her bank account balance. Which is rather high. "H-ha... h-how?"

Lizzy rarely buys anything, works quite a bit and knows that her account is safe thanks to Karen. But she doesn't check the balance often.

"I edited the time you worked so you still got paid for what you worked but what I couldn't put in two months ago was added over the last six weeks. Now if I didn't then you and I would have been sitting infront of the authorities getting the labor laws read to us. Line. By. Line."

"Have I told you you're awesome?" Lizzy asks.

"Never enough." Karen smirks.

Lizzy proceeded to purchase a few of the cosmetics for Stacy. The Soleil cashing them out informed Lizzy the colors she bought were not suited for her. Lizzy let them know it was a Christmas gift. The bill was up there but Lizzy could afford it. Karen carried the products to keep them from getting too cold.

"Something smells good." Lizzy says walking past an ally.

"It could be the restaurant selling yams on the other end." Karen says looking up a map.

"Then let's cut through here. I could use a snack."

"Your snacks are the size of meals some days." Karen says with a sigh.

"So?" Lizzy giggles. She turns to look at Karen but the figure standing behind them caught her eye.

Fight or flight kicked in til she noticed it was Alex.

"Alex?" She tilts her head.

"What are you doing? Cutting through allies is dangerous. There are thugs in this area." Alex says looking around.

"I would have been fine Mr. Thug." Lizzy crosses her arms.

"Really?" Alex steps forward.

He isn't sure what all is coming over him. He has pent up anger but not toward Lizzy. His thoughts are racing. He is concerned for her safety again but she won't understand until something happens to her. Alex is now right in front of Lizzy looking down at her face and her slightly starting to chap lips. His heart is aching. He wants to be with her.

"You didn't even know I was behind you. How would you know if you would have been fine?"

Lizzy tries taking a step back. Alex pulls her over so her back is to the wall. He wonders why isn't she putting up a fight.

"I'm going to ca-" Karen gets cut off by Lizzy.

"No. I can handle him." Lizzy informs her Soleil. She wants answers for the way he has been acting.

"So you still think you would be fine if someone got you like this?" He asks. His hands to either side of her on the wall.

"I would have knocked you out by now if it wasn't you."

"Really? You think you can take on a guy?" Alex chuckles.

He moves his arms so his left one is above Lizzy. With his right hand he tilts up her chin so she is looking up at him while he leans over her. He glances at her lips again. He wants to see them with a confident smirk again. He misses their weekly almost daily squabbles.

"What are you doing? You have a girlfriend." Lizzy tries wielding those words like a sword.

"Yea and you seem to have a death wish." He deflects. "You keep throwing yourself in these situations that could go bad. First the bull and now you're running around this area at night?"

"Why are you so concerned about what I do with my life?" She whispers slightly pushing on his chest. 

Alex doesn't know how to respond. She could feel the muscles moving under his sweatshirt since his coat wasn't zipped. Lizzy doesn't remember seeing him having this much muscle over summer break. He must have started working out for Stacy. Alex's heart could also be felt pounding through his clothes. His slightly shocked and flustered expression tells Lizzy there is more to the story.

He didnt respond so Lizzy switches gears. "Why are you and Stacy together." She whispers.

Her voice is enticing him. He wants to tell her everything he has been keeping a secret. Alex closes his eyes. He can't lie to her while looking her in the eye. 

"Alex. Look at me." Lizzy whispers. 

Her voice is soothing making him want to obey her. He slowly opens his eyes. Her hands still on his chest. He hasn't moved his arm or hand.

"What's going on? Neither of you are happy. Why are you two together?" Lizzy asks gently. Those words push him over the edge. He can not lie to her anymore.

"Because I'm scared and stupid." Alex says. He moves his hand to the side of her warm neck. Caressing her cheek with his thumb. This feels right to Alex, almost natural. He isn't scared with her. She gives him confidence no one else could give him. He glances at her hair that's in a messy ponytail and then to her lips again. 

"Who called you stupid? You're far from that." She reaches up with her left hand to hold onto his forearm. Her presence, kind words and touch gives him courage to keep talking. 

"I did." He closes his eyes. "Stacy confessed to liking me at the festival. Then when I told her I liked someone else she figured out who it was. Then convinced me that if we pretended to date, I would have enough courage to talk to you."

"Why? We already were having conversations just fi-"

"Not like that." He cuts her off. He looks her in the eyes. He whispers. "Not in that way."

"Then in what way?"

"More like this." He leans in very slowly. Their lips getting closer. He closes his eyes.

It's finally hits the feral Lizzy. "HE IS GOING TO KISS ME!" Lizzy's heart jumps to her throat. She has a slight panic look. She has no idea what to do. Does she stop it? Does she lean in herself?

"Well look what we have here." A gruff voice makes Alex stop and look at where the voice came from.

A man in a leather jacket is standing there. "How about you leave the little lady with us. Since it looks like you're being rude to her. I'm sure she would enjoy our company much better. Right boys?" A few other guys all in leather jackets flank him. Their Soleil's hoovering behind them.