Be There For Us?

Two

When Liese got home that evening, she couldn't think straight. She had to figure out what it was exactly that Lily had cooped up in her huge intelligent mind. She had to admit, Lilian was very smart. Not just because she had good grades, but because she knew a lot. Lily's older brother Derek had told the three best friends, "Grades don't measure your intelligence level." Lily's whole family was really smart and knew a lot, but the choices they made ruined what their brains held. Annaliese had tried and tried to get Lily's almost-confession out of her head, but she couldn't. She absolutely had to figure out what Lily was going to say to her at the beach. Liese grabbed her custom-made turquoise Pantech touch-screen and dialed up Lily's number. She picked up immediately; she always does with Alex and Leise. "Hey Liese, what's up?" Liese was hesitant and careful not to push it. "Oh, not much. Just thinking, I guess."

"Oh, yeah? About who or what?

"You to be honest." Lily laughed a little at that, and asked "What about me?" "Well, it's more about what you were going to tell me at the beach earlier before the wave interrupted you."

"Oh, yeah, that. I was kinda wanting to talk to you about it in person, Liese."

"I can come over to your house if you want me to."

"No, not here, not the dreaded asylum. How about we meet up at Ben's?" That's the 'Coffee and Chocolates' cafe coincidentally right in the middle of where Alex, Liese, and Lily lived. Liese answered, "Yeah, sounds good. See you in ten?" She asked this knowing full well Lily would ride her skateboard, and make it there in five minutes, so she could order a "Snickerdelicous" for them both before Liese got there and didn't have to wait to get her coffee. Yeah, Leise isn't a very patient person. "Duh," Lily replied. Liese laughed and they hung up. Liese yelled upstairs to her mom, "I'm going to get coffee with Lily, I'll call you in half an hour if I'm not home by then." To which her mom replied "Tell Lily I said hello!" Liese smiled to herself and walked out the door.

When Lily got there, she was five minutes early, as usual. She picked up her skateboard and walked in. Karl, theold man and only person who ever works behind the bar, saw Lily walk in and yelled "Hello deh! The usual?" like he usually does. Lily giggled and said "Hi Karl. And, yes. Liese will be here shortly." Lily sat down at a table in the middle of the cafe, close to the bar where Karl was. She picked up her board and stared at the grip-tape. Gee, I need to take this to Zumies and get it fixed. she thought. That's where she and Alex always go to tinker with their skateboards. There's a guy there named Oz who always flirts with Lily and Liese. She thought about Oz and smiled. Not because she liked him--no,Lily had a thing for Alex--but because she thought how perfect he and Liese would be together. God, wouldn't that just be perfect. Karl walked over to Lily and handed her the coffees. "Can I be of anymore service, madam?" Karl asked, acting sophisticated. "No, but thank you anyway." Lily smiled. As soon as he walked away, Liese came through the door. They both still had on their clothes from earlier when they were surfing. Liese picked up her drink and smiled with delight. "Just as good as always." "Definitely," Lily agreed. "Mom says hey," Liese said. "Liar. I bet you ten bucks she said 'hello,' instead." Liese laughed and replied sarcastically, "Well don't you have a gambling problem. You should see someone about that." "I'm already seeing a zillion other people about a zillion other problems," Lily said, not meaning to sound depressing but sounding like that anyway. "Sorry Lily." Liese said. Lily laughed it off and said "So I wanted to talk to you about something. Well, about someone. About Alex." Liese immediately got worried and asked "What, is there something I don't know?" "Woah, calm down, nothing's happened to him." There was a short silence.

"So what about Alex?" Liese asked curiously. Liese thought for a moment, and finally decided on saying "I'm pretty sure I have feelings for him. Like, as a boyfriend or whatever. And I have for a while now." Liese stared at her blankly. Lily panicked because she thought Liese was mad, and started sputting out words. "Liese I'm so so sooo sorry I didn't tell you when this crazy thought developed, I just wasn't sure what you would do, I was scared that you would tell me it wasn't possible for me to feel this since I've known him for so long, or something like that." Annaliese looked down and asked "When do you plan on telling him?" "I haven't really decided. I was planning on telling him after I told you, but seeing your reaction makes me feel like I either should have told him first or I should wait a while longer. I need your help Annaliese. Like, really bad. I'm really confused, I have no idea what I should do, I've never had a boyfriend. Can you hep me? You've had a two or three, so can you help me?" Leise thought for a little bit, and said "Of course I'll help you, Lily. But for real, you need to tell him like, some time this week. I don't like keeping things from either of you. Do it for me." Lily smirked and said "If I'm doing this for you, I want you to do something for me." Liese's eyes widened and she muttered 'oh no. Lily sat up and said "I want you to go on a date with that guy, Oz, from Zumies." Liese nearly jumped out of her seat from surprise. "Oz?! Are you serious right now?! Lily that guy is way out of my league!" Lily laughed and replied "Liese, shut up. You're gorgeous and Oz thinks so. Besides, he's super nice and I know you like him." Liese glared at Lily but couldn't help but smiling. As she left, Liese pointed at Lily and stated "One week, and I'll do it when you do."