No Time For Tears

Chapter 5- Awkward

Lizzie

When Lizzie entered the library the temperature dropped dramatically, she really should be used to it by now, living in a home with no proper heater and all. Slipping on her jacket she scanned each aisle looking for her friend, chances are he would be near the mystery/Sci-fi area. Or the kids area. Alex thinks its good for the soul if he relaxes and reads things like Curious George once in awhile. The more she thought of him the more Lizzie realized how strange he was, but she liked it because it was never a boring conversation with him.

"Alex" Lizzie peered around the corner and there sat her friend reading one of his books, he didn't look like he realized she even spoke or called out his name. She sighed and decided there was only one proper thing to do to get his attention. Lizzie threw herself onto him which caused him to scream. He pushed her off and scooted back. As his eyes analyzed the girl in front of him, his terror faded to off to a glare. Lizzie burst out laughing and stood back up onto her feet.

"Really Liz? Really? Why did you scare the hell out of me when I was in what's supposed to be my safe haven? That's rude" he spilled the words fast and his glare remained. But that didn't stop her from laughing, if anything it caused her to laugh more.

"Sorry buddy, I called you and you didn't answer so I decided that drastic times call for drastic measures"

Alex only shook his head in response but he did grab Lizzie's outstretched hand to help him up. He picked up the book that he dropped during his panic and placed it back on the shelf.
"Come on I need to grab my bag and we can go to hell-I mean Science."

Now Lizzie shook her head but followed the boy to the front desk to grab his bag. "Hurry up dumbo" Alex turned and looked at her with mock shock. "Did you just call me, Alex Peter, a dumbo?" He asked placing his hand over his heart.

Standing up straight and putting her hands on her chest, Lizzie lowered her gaze, "I have indeed. I have called you, Alex Peter, a dumbo. I am ready to face any consequence that may come up. For I, regret nothing." She whispered dramatically.

Rolling his eyes, Alex grabbed the hand, of a now laughing Lizzie, and pulled her along with him to leave the library. After he said goodbye to the librarian, who sent a glare his way for yelling, the two were about to make it out of the library when Alex's name was called out.

Both Alex and Lizzie turned around to come face to face with a grinning Jonathan and an embarrassed Ally who's cheeks were red from the loudness of Jonathan's voice in such a quiet area. Alex grinned over at Jonathan and the two exchanged one of those manly handshakes.

"Here to pick up your books?" Alex asked.

Jonathan nodded, "Yeah man, if I don't get them my friends and I will get lectured, then I'll get lectured by them. And yeah..I'm not in the mood for a lecture."

The two boys laughed, Alex turned to Lizzie, "Hey wait right here, give me two minutes and I'll be right back" with a slow nod of agreement Lizzie responded,"okay hurry up don't want to be late"

Jonathan also did the same, turning to Ally who gave him a silent pleading look, he didn't seem to understand it though. "Hey babe, I'm going with Alex, I'll be right back, don't go anywhere, I'll walk you to class." She sighed but nodded her head.

With that, the two guys left to the back of the library. The girls shifted awkwardly on their feet and were looking around. With accidental timing, the two made eye-contact. Lizzie sent a small smile Ally's way and she shot one right back.

"So, hey" Lizzie said slowly after awhile. The silence seemed to be so loud that it created a tension hard to break. Bouncing on her toes, Ally put her smile back on. "Hey, how've you been?" Attempting to make things less awkward.

"Um, good. You know classes, homework, babysitting. The usual" she shrugged lightly. "You?"

Ally nodded her head, "Uh, also good. School, chores, and other things." She took a moment. "How are the-the uh siblings?"

The mention of her brother and sister made Lizzie smile, "Their good, I just dropped off Kelly and she's been getting better in talking properly. Austin however, is getting to be a little pain. He's still doing his chores and responsibilities but he just has attitude. Growing up I guess.

Ally gave her a smile, "Their growing up alright"

Slowly, the smiles faded and so did the conversation.

After a minute or so, Lizzie laughed. Ally looked at her confused, "what?"

Lizzie smiled, "It's awkward how this" she gestured between them, "how this awkward, it used to be so easy."

Ally smiled with her after the words came out if her mouth, "That's true. The conversation just flowed before. I don't know why its so different now."

The smiles on the two girls once again faltered. "It's different cause we're different." Lizzie added.

She didn't mean that their personalities had changed either. She brought up the state of their friendship. It was different than it was less than 2 years ago. Was it for the better? Maybe. That doesn't mean it was easy to do. The two went through so much together, it was strange that they were no longer together.

Ally let out a breath and nodded. Things did change. And she didn't know why. It was perfect. Before she could say anything though, her boyfriends laugh echoed through the small library. She turned with a smile. Thankful for the interuption from the silence that followed Lizzie's statment. She needed a distraction.