A Long Story

Look guys! I wrote a piece that's not totally depressing. It's more about exploring friendship and family dynamics. Just a warning: it's really long (15 pages-double spaced); I didn't intend it to be this way, but I just kept writing (started this the 11th) and didn't want to stop. It's not titled yet--I'm so bad at those...EDIT: Title!

But definitely let me know what you think about it!

When You Least Expect it

"Elizabeth."

Elizabeth froze, her hand gripping the car door.

She shouldn't have been surprised to run into him. After all, they've lived close to each other since they were toddlers. It showed the strength of their friendship in seeing that even after 34 years, they still knew each other. Well, their friendship was strong - until two months ago.

Ty spotted her first. She and her coworkers Marcus and Lily were just leaving a Chinese restaurant. She would have never seen him, because she was just  getting in her car when she heard his voice, the sound of which she memorized as a young girl.

She turned, inevitably knowing that she couldn't avoid him.

She came to face with first his light brown eyes, the same that always showed his every emotion. His hair, which used to be dark brown and windswept, was finally cut, framing his narrow face more and making him seem older than his 34 years. He was dressed in a pair of relaxed zip-fly chinos and navy blue cashmere V-neck sweater.

"Ty," Elizabeth said, not bothering to hide her surprise. Alex and Manchester, two of Ty's closest friends at the company where he worked as a computer programmer were with him. They stood in the background. In the past, she and Ty and them had gone out a few times for drinks together.

They waved awkwardly at her.

Marcus, who was just about to enter the front seat, watched Elizabeth who didn't seem to be able to speak. He was the eldest out of all the company that gathered around his car. He worked as Elizabeth and Lilly's supervisor. Even though complete strangers, he shared a glance with Manchester and Alex. He sensed some history between his coworker and the man.  

 "So," he drawled, taking note at how the man was looking at Elizabeth almost pleadingly. "How do you know each other?"

Ty swallowed. He seemed like he wanted to talk, but he could do nothing look at Elizabeth, take in the sight of someone who used to be in his life every day.

Marcus looked expectantly at Elizabeth, whose eyes suddenly hardened, a deadly sight at work. When someone messed up at the corporate firm that she worked at, she let them know. The workers  knew by her eyes exactly what Elizabeth thought of them.

"We used to be friends." Now, at that moment, she didn't register how much it actually hurt to see him physically flinch at the dismissive tone in her voice. But then she thought about how he deserved to hurt.

Marcus, noting the tense situation, smiled - a bit sadly at her. "Well, okay. Ah, I should drive you home now, Elizabeth. Let's go then."

Even as they drove away, she let her eyes stray to the rear view mirror, where the sight of Ty was getting smaller and smaller. He stood still, watching her all the same. Her mind went back to two months ago, when everything seemed almost perfect.  

* * *

She had just come home. Usually, Ty, who picked her daughter Maggie up from school, would emerge from the living room to greet her. Ty was Elizabeth's best friend--had been since they were young. Even as adults, he knew how to help her. He always drove Maggie to school and was there to pick her up. Each day, he'd then drop her off at home.

However, this time, Sandra came to her call. She was Maggie's babysitter, even though the younger girl always argued that as a twelve-year-old she shouldn't need someone to look after her.


"Sandra, where's everyone?"


"Mr. Andrews is still at work," she answered. Elizabeth nodded at that; her husband Dan was a tax accountant and worked late hours.

Recently, it had been getting hard because in addition to working so late, Dan was also away frequently. If she had to admit it, Elizabeth knew that his schedule put a strain on their marriage. That was something she never expected.

"And Ty and Maggie?"


"Ty?" Sandra asked, squeaking. Elizabeth almost laughed. She knew of the babysitter's crush on Ty; everyone knew. But it was funny that even the sound of his name caused her to be nervous. Usually, if Elizabeth knew Sandra at all, she was a heartbreaker with the guys. She knew how to get her guys. But Ty, ol' Ty had this cute, gentlemanly charm. Something that he's been obvious to since he and Elizabeth were young.


Elizabeth didn't know if Ty ever did anything to encourage Sandra's feelings, but she never talked about it with her longtime friend.


Still, it was clear that Sandra had something for Ty, despite their age difference. "Um, well, he's upstairs. He's trying to get Maggie out of her room. It's been like that since I got here. Ty's missing work now, isn't he?"


"What's wrong with Maggie?" When the babysitter just shrugged, Elizabeth began to feel worried. She dropped her work purse on the couch and tried not to run upstairs.


Ty was leaning against a door, forehead pressed to the wood. "Mags, I didn't think you'd get this mad."


"Go away!" a voice yelled from within.


Elizabeth decided to step in. "What's going on?"


Ty dropped his hands from the door, turning to sigh at Elizabeth.


"We got into a fight."


Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. "A fight? How old are you?"


Ty glared back at her, not appreciating her humor at the moment.


"Okay, what was the fight about?"


"I kind of embarrassed her at school when I was picking her up. She was talking to this boy, and I dunno what that little bastard was doing but he was touching her hair--and I got really mad so I kind of went up to the guy and told him to back off. And well---why are you laughing?" Ty barked at her.


Immune to his anger by now, she was trying her best to keep a straight face during the story, but couldn't hold off the incoming giggles. "Really? My daughter was flirting and you told off her crush?"


"Shut up, Lizzie. You know how I am. She's like my daughter." Elizabeth then tried to sober up. She saw how frustrated her best friend was and she knew what Ty said was true. The moment he saw her out of the delivery room, she knew Maggie would be his little girl, even if she wasn't really "his."


The woman felt a bit sorry for her friend's distress. He obviously was worried about Maggie.


"Just go downstairs, Ty. There needs to be some estrogen time now," she said, smiling slightly at him. Ty, like a guilty little boy, dropped his shoulders. "Oh, and make sure you get Sandra. She likes to make soup and I kind of want a broth going for dinner. Maybe she could help."


Waiting until Ty was finally at the end of the stairs and away from her daughter's room, she knocked on the door. She didn't get an answer, but Elizabeth instinctively knew she could come in.


Maggie was on her phone, texting. She seemed almost normal, but Elizabeth saw the tear streaks on her daughter's cheeks. The younger girl angrily swiped them away.


Knowing that Maggie must have heard her conversation with Ty, she decided to be direct.

"You know, Maggie, Ty's only trying to look out for you..."


"What? By freakin' embarrassing me?! Mom, you know how long I was waiting for Thomas to ask me out--"


"--Even though, I don't think you should be dating--" Elizabeth muttered under her breath.


"--and I know he was going to do it, but then stupid Uncle Ty came in. Then later, he tells me he didn't like Thomas, but he doesn't even, like, know him. He wouldn't listen to me when I said I liked him--"


"--Maggie--"


"I already have one father who doesn't care what I think. I don't need another one!"


Elizabeth had known things were tense between her daughter and Dan. They never saw eye to eye. Dan disliked Maggie's free spirit and taste for adventure, traits which he deemed unfeminine and irresponsible. At the same time, however, Elizabeth wished her husband could be more understanding. Maggie was growing up, finding her independence--the sort she wished she had more of when she was younger.


"Ty cares about you."


"Whatever."

"Maggie," Elizabeth scolded.


Her daughter only glared back defiantly at her.


"Mags, what did you say to him?"


She sniffed. "That I hated him."


Elizabeth knew and saw how Ty was feeling. He worshiped the ground his goddaughter walked on. "You don't mean that."


"Well," Maggie said grumpily. "Right now I do." She threw her pillow that she was cradling in her arms onto the floor. "I won't be down for dinner. I'm not hungry."


Elizabeth, a bit tired and confused by her teenager's dramatics, sighed and left the room. She might as well get dinner going.


On Mondays, she always invited the college graduate to stay for dinner. Elizabeth remembered how tiring it was at Sandra's age--babysitting then going home to cook for herself. She took pity on Sandra, and had a seat for her at the dinner table.


She knew Sandra was usually in the study room. When Maggie liked to do her own thing, Sandra took the time to do her school work.


When she pushed open the door to the study room, Elizabeth didn't know whether to vomit or to scream first.


It was an odd sight--Sandra and Ty: Sandra seemed to have thrown her whole body towards him and she was grasping his head, putting her lips on his for all she was worth. Before she could even look at what Ty was doing--where his hands were--she had made some noise, bringing attention to her spot at the door.


"Elizabeth!" Ty gasped, jumping away from Sandra, who also sprang apart, yelling, "Mrs. Andrews!"


"I--" She wanted to open her mouth to speak, but she was afraid she'd spew bile if she did, so she turned suddenly and slammed the door.

As she walked away, she couldn't place her exact feelings at seeing such a thing. Something like disgust, to see Ty kissing a young girl, that girl being her child's babysitter! Anger, maybe because she couldn't believe Ty would do something like this under her roof. And maybe, just maybe...


Frantic footsteps caught her hearing. "Elizabeth!"


"Ty," she said, trying to maintain a calm and straight voice. She had her hands clenched by her sides. "I want you to leave. Now."


"No, Elizabeth, you don't understand--"


"Under my roof, Ty! You kiss the babysitter? For god's sake, she was Maggie's age a decade ago!"


Ty reached out to her, but she backed up quickly.


"You disgust me. Leave." Elizabeth pointed her finger, which was shaking uncontrollably, at the door. Her breath came in deep spurts. Ty looked ashamed, just as he should look.


"Lizzie..." he said quietly, trying again to mollify her. Lizzie was his childhood name for her, the name he'd call her when they played a game of hide-and-seek and he'd call out in jest. Other times, he did it to console her, knowing how it made her feel. But now, Elizabeth wasn't falling for it.


"Go."


Elizabeth then turned her back on him, disappearing into the kitchen. Amidst her torrent of emotions, she pulled out her pots and pans, banging them here and there. In that one slither of silence, she heard the front door quietly close.

* * *

"Merry Christmas, Mom!" Maggie bounded down the stairs, enthused by the Christmas morning.

It's been three days since Elizabeth ran into Ty at the restaurant. Even since then, she couldn't keep him off her mind. She's been running that day, two months ago, through her mind, and all she could remember with astounding clarity was the heartbreak and defeat on Ty's face when she yelled him to leave her house, leave her and her child's life. The only time she had ever seen that look on his face was when his mom gave out her last breath after beating three long months of agonizing lung cancer.

Elizabeth welcomed Maggie in her arms. "Merry Christmas to you too." Her daughter then turned to hug her dad, with less excitement, she sadly noted. "Now what present should we open up first?"

"How about these two?" Dan suggested, picking up two nondescript boxes from the back of the Christmas tree. Elizabeth didn't even know there were presents back there.

Dan read the look on her face. "Oh these? Yeah, I saw it on the porch a few days ago. It's Ty's."

The two looked at Dan, who shrugged. He sighed, saying, "You know what, I feel bad for the guy. Ty's a good man, something you guys already know. I don't know what he did, but, really, he sent you presents. You should open yours."

"What did he get you?" Maggie asked quietly.

"Some book," Dan grimaced. Elizabeth could have laughed; Dan hated reading, and it was always her and Ty's joke to take the mickey out of him. Ty bought that book to keep with the joke. "Cheeky bastard."

His mobile rang at the moment and he read the Caller ID quickly...before Maggie could sneak a peek at the caller idea, Dan moved away from her. His daughter frowned at him. "Sorry, girls. Hold on, got to answer this."

"Really, answering a phone call during Christmas! Looks like he cares about work more than--"

"Maggie," Elizabeth said warningly, given her a look. Maggie shut her mouth, but only because it was the holidays, and she had an unopened present in her hands, teasing her.

For once, Maggie was speechless.

"He bought me the wristlet." She gazed up at her mom. "Mom, he bought me the Marc Jacobs I wanted."

Being a teen, Maggie liked to keep up with the latest fashion, despite how expensive some of her choices might be. She's been begging her parents for a small wristlet from Marc Jacobs, and no doubt, with her time spent with Ty, she probably told him about her wish.

"I love it, Mom. Oooh, now I feel horrible!" she said high-pitched and with tears in her eyes. "I shouldn't have said I hated him. I don't. I really miss him! And with you two...how you think he and Sandra...I didn't say anything because I was so mad at him and wanted you to be mad at him too--"

"Honey, what do you mean?"

"I'm talking about Sandra. She liked Uncle Ty, but he didn't like her at all."

"What does that--"

"I always knew he didn't like her! Especially since--"

Maggie suddenly stopped instantly. She started gathering all of the wrappers together, and ran out of the room before her mom could question her strange behavior.

Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head. She then looked down at the present in her hand. Ty had written simply "To Lizzie" with painstaking clarity, because she knew his penmanship was normally unreadable.

What she saw in her gift made her heart stop.

"Mom?" Maggie had returned. "Is that Uncle Ty's gift? What did he get you?"

Out of all of the gifts Ty had given her, this seemed the most expensive. Under the low light, the earrings glittered majestically. Diamond. Elizabeth remembered complaining how Dan never thought of buying anything like this. And Ty listened to her.

It brought her back to many summers ago when they were still in high school. Both of them had failed to get the summer jobs they wanted and they were in Elizabeth's attic, lazying about and completely broke.

"When I get my first job, I'm buying myself a pair of diamond earrings?"

"Diamond earrings?" Ty said speculatively, giving her an odd look.

"Well, yeah."

"Why do girls love diamonds so much? They're like...nothing."

Elizabeth threw a random pillow at him, but he was able to duck it. "Come on, Ty. Let me daydream."

Even when she did get a job that actually paid well, she had forgotten about her wish. Her eyes began to tear at the sight of the glistening gift. Ty always remembered what she said.

It was in that moment that Elizabeth accepted the ache that had been with her since two months ago. Ty had always been a permanent fixture in her life, and she never stopped thinking about him, try as she might. What was the argument about in the first place?

If Ty liked Sandra, then he could kiss her. Granted, he should have done it outside of her home, but still, Elizabeth had no right to regulate who he liked and what he did. And maybe something else was happening...something that Elizabeth didn't know. She realized how quick she was to judge. Even more, she made her own daughter dislike him. She didn't say anything when Maggie complained about the little things Ty did to annoy her. The two of them had been so spiteful. Elizabeth saw how Maggie came to realize that her behavior was unwarranted.

"Oh," Maggie whispered, gazing adoringly at them. "They're gorgeous!"

She didn't quite understand why her mom started crying so much then.

* * *

Elizabeth found herself at Ty's door the next night. She didn't use the spare key she knew he hid above in his door frame, which she would usually do. But that was two months ago, when he and her were still speaking. Now, Elizabeth wasn't completely sure if he'd take her back.

In her mind she went over what she would say, what she would do, because this fight was the longest. The last time they fought was in their freshman year because Ty told her he didn't like her boyfriend during the time. She threw back at him that he was just misjudging someone he only heard about.

In an almost fascinating turn of events, it seemed that Maggie was in the same situation as she was once in. And the result was the same.

Elizabeth had learned that one of Ty's girl friends was dating her boyfriend at the same time. Of course, it was the end for that relationship. Maggie no longer liked Thomas. She told Thomas off for calling her best friend 'fat.' Mariana was her best friend, who, truth be told, was a bit chubby for her age, but that still didn't warrant any name calling.

After taking a deep breath that Elizabeth did not want to release, she knocked on his apartment door. She heard a muffled "Coming!"

When Ty came to the door, his eyes widened at the sight of her.

Beyond him, Elizabeth saw a Christmas tree lit brightly and decorated beautifully. The room looked odd with its festive decoration while no one seemed to be in there. It was also actually clean, which Elizabeth was a bit glad to see; Ty was always so messy. The volume of his TV was on low and "A Christmas Story" played on it.

Elizabeth remembered that Ty's mom had died around the time of Maggie's birth. He was an only child, so he had no one during any of the festive seasons. For the past years, he was always over at the house, celebrating with Elizabeth and her family. One time, he brought over a girlfriend, but after an awkward time, they decided to keep Christmas a smaller and more familiar affair. But this year, Elizabeth realized with sharp pang in her heart, he had no one.

Not even her.

The tree reflected Ty's past few months; it was lonely in the center of the room. The decorations still couldn't mask that feeling completely. Elizabeth saw that he had no star on top.

"You have no star, Ty," she said quietly, as her way of greeting him.

He glanced back for second, then, with a soft, but sad smile, said, "I do, but I just didn't put it up...it was always Maggie's job."

The little times they argued, he never seemed to get angry at her. A little annoyed, yes. Elizabeth could always tell by the way he pursed his lips, or the way he stood with his hands stuck in his pockets. But he never yelled at her.

Elizabeth's eyes met his, and she nearly sighed in relief when Ty turned his head a little, letting her in.

Usually she knew what to do at his place. She could always find an unfolded blanket on the couch, or unwashed dishes in the sink, or stacks of books that need to be put back in its place. But it didn't feel right for her to touch anything of his.

Ty sat down on the couch and he gestured for her to sit down.

"So how've you been?"

Elizabeth didn't know what to say to that at first. He was asking her how she was?

"I missed you. A lot," she said. She swallowed her fears. "I was wrong. I didn't think when I--well, I don't know why I was so mad in the first place."

"Lizzie, I swear," Ty pushed determinedly, "I didn't kiss her. She kissed me. I knew that she's liked me for awhile, but I didn't encourage it. But that day, she just got up and I didn't know what to do for a while. I froze and I--"

"Ty, I know. I know."

He glanced at her, eyes blinking rapidly. "You do?"

"I was being stupid. I didn't think--you know how my anger gets sometimes."

"What happened to her then? Sandra?"

"I didn't fire her, but she's been in petrified fear around me. She was the one who told me what happened."

Ty's mouth dropped open. "So, you knew? And you didn't come to me?"

"She told me yesterday on the phone, okay? Shoot me," Elizabeth said with a roll of her eyes. When she was younger and in her bitchy teenage years, she'd always give Ty that sort of answer, and he always took it. Truth be told, she didn't like apologizing too much; it wasn't her. Ty should know how it made her feel horrible just to know that she messed up.

Ty looked at her, long and hard, and didn't say anything for a few seconds.

Then he let out an odd laugh, which sounded relieved at the same time. "Moments like these make me wonder why I love you so much."

Elizabeth tilted her head. It wasn't something she expected him to say...she opened her mouth to speak, but then Ty asked, "Did Dan like his gift?"

When she saw Ty's smirk, one of her own crept its way on her face.

"He hated it."

"Mission accomplished, then." Ty rested his arm on top of the couch, and Elizabeth took it as a sign that he was opening himself up to her. She snuggled against him, closing her eyes, knowing that things were going to be okay between Ty and her. That guilt that sat at the bottom of her stomach for the past month receded, and she felt thankful that Ty was so forgiving of her and her ways. Still, one question was on her mind. It was small and trivial, but when she thought of that day, she always wondered...

"Ty?"

"Hmm?" he asked, his chin resting on the top of hers.

"Did you, I don't know, like it? That kiss?"

Ty couldn't blush, but if he could, Elizabeth suspected he would have.

She knew the answer. "Ew!" She felt like a high school girl at that point, one who was just learning about a close friend's crush.

"Wait, wait, before you freakin' judge--" Elizabeth bit her lip at Ty's use of Maggie's favorite substitute cuss'--what I mean is that, it's been some time since I've been close to a woman, if you know what I mean--"

"Okay, stop. I get it, Ty." She laughed away both his explanations and the queasiness that was nearly settled in her stomach. The way Ty sat so close to her, also made her feel her skin prickle--in a way that was not totally uncomfortable.

"But really," Ty said, placing a hand on her wrist, "I rather have someone my age than someone like Sandra. I'd rather be with someone close to me."



Elizabeth smiled, though he couldn't see it, as she had buried her head in his chest. "Oh, and hey, you'll be glad to learn that Maggie no longer likes Thomas."

"Ha!" He got a playful smack on his chest in response. Elizabeth let the elation spread over her. For the next three hours, they caught up on the most mundane topics. They were making up for lost time. When Ty started yawning, his friend knew it was late. She got off the couch that she splayed herself across, and without another word, she hugged him again. Elizabeth heard Ty give a small laugh.

"You should get home then," Ty whispered hoarsely, gazing down at her. But something passing through his eyes, and if given more time, Elizabeth could have caught it. Before she could tell what he was thinking, he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "But really, Lizzie. You don't know how hopeless I've felt without you."

* * *

The day she found out her husband was cheating on her, Elizabeth didn't feel anything. For an hour after discovering her husband's used condom in their master bedroom, she felt numb, and nothing, not even Maggie's prodding, made her feel anything.

Ty came in his regular saving fashion; he always knew when to come to her help. With him and an emotionally confused Maggie, she took on Dan, head on.

The divorce papers were signed without so much as a peep. Elizabeth knew that Dan respected her enough to know that their marriage needed to end. They decided that they would have shared custody over Maggie, something that was not so enthusiastically approved by the teen. All of the money was split between the two adults.

Dan had already moved out into his own apartment. He told her that he was no longer with Ellen, the woman he was seeing--Elizabeth honestly didn't care-- but that didn't change much of the situation. Both he and her knew that.

They needed to end.

Maggie, in a mature fashion, volunteered to pack up Dan's remaining belongings and deliver it to him.

Elizabeth had just gotten home from the grocery store on a Sunday morning. She wanted to peek into the living to ask what Maggie wanted to eat for lunch. Up until then, she didn't expect to hear Ty's voice in there.

The door was opened just a slither, so Elizabeth peeked through the opening. Ty was apparently helping Maggie pack up some boxes. She had to smile at this.

"--and it's not like I was that close to him."

"Yeah, but he's your father...you should give him some slack. He was never good at telling you that emotional shit."

Elizabeth didn't like that Ty swore in front of her, but Maggie just giggled.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll get to see him every weekend. Woohoo."

"You'll make your mom happy, Maggie. She wants you to have a father in your life still."

"To be honest, you're like my father, Uncle Ty."

Elizabeth sucked in a breath. Hearing that made her feel a bit hurt, but at the same time, for some reason, her heart soared. She knew Ty must have felt the same way because he gave Maggie a playful noogie. The teenage playfully protested; she didn't like her hair to be messed with.

"When are you going to tell her then?"

"Mags, you know--"

"What? What? Uncle Ty, you know I'm right. I might be a freakin' pubescent girl, but I know love."

"Oh yeah, and this is coming from the girl who liked that Thomas character."

"Hey. Okay. Fine. Thomas is a jerk,'" Maggie said, making a face.

"Well, you'll find someone one day, don't worry Mags," he answered back.

"Boys--so complicated," she said, dramatically sighing. Ty smiled widely. "Including you."

She suddenly became serious, the teasing gleam in her eyes disappeared. Elizabeth saw how much her daughter reminded her of her younger self. "It's you--all this time. You love her." Maggie bit her lower lip. "I've known for a while, just because of the way you are around her. Because you don't have a girl friend--and the few girlfriends that I've met, you've never kept around. Because you always take care of me."

"That's because you're like a daughter to me, Mags," Ty inserted, almost petulantly.

"Sure, but I've seen the way you look at her too, when she wasn't looking. Or when Dad wasn't." Her emphasis seemed to have its desired effect because he couldn't look at her then.

"Do you honestly want to see another guy in her life?" Ty didn't answer, he only started to tape together one of Dan's packages. Maggie wanted his attention, so she took the roll of tape from him. He didn't protest. "Like here comes the next Christmas time and it's me, Mom, you, and oh, look her new boyfriend. Like, really? I wouldn't want that. I mean, Dad and you are totally enough. I prefer you as my stepfather anyways."

Ty is in love with me? Elizabeth thought incredulously. But somehow, her mind began to race. She thought back to all those times that he was there for her. Why he always helped her out when she needed him the most. And that day they were in his living room. His comments. His eyes. I'm so blind.

"Your mom is going through a lot, Maggie. She doesn't deserve to have her heart pulled like that. Maybe it's about time that I-I let go of her--"

"What?" the girl nearly yelled. Even Elizabeth had a shock run through her. It surprised her how disappointed she suddenly felt.

"--not let go as in 'I'm-never-seeing-you-again.' I mean, just be done with my feelings for her, because it's gotten me no where. Only more ... disappointment."

She thought back to her own feelings. Of course she once fantasized a romantic relationship with him. They were the closest friends, but they were also male and female. But, really, could a year of pining over Ty as a teenager develop into love?

"I mean, Mom's like really logical. She doesn't know a lot about her emotions. She has to think her stuff through. Only in--uh, certain moments--" Elizabeth could just tell that Maggie was giving Ty a certain look "--does she lose her cool."

In her spot, Elizabeth scoffed disbelievingly, before actually thinking through what her daughter just said. Maggie knew her mother too well, because she was exactly like that.

"Maggie, you are just like your mom when she was younger. Too inquisitive for her own damn good," Ty grumbled, and Maggie's giggles came again.

Elizabeth leaned her back against the wall. Has it always been this way?

Her and Ty? Together? The possibility of such a thing struck something within her. It was not disgust; nothing close to that blowing kick that occurred when she discovered Dan's infidelity. The two were always a pair, somehow. They grew as neighbors. They were each others' dates for prom. They went to colleges only ten miles apart from each other. Their work places were strategically close to each other. Even when she met Dan and got married, the bond between them was still strong. Really, they were always near each other, if no one considered that brief two month period break.

Back when they were young, of course she fantasized about him, how he might be as a lover. She didn't know how long Ty felt something towards her, but from what Maggie suggests, seemed to have been a long, long time.

But she was new divorcee! She had a child. She hadn't been out on a date since forever. Unless she counted the times she and Ty would have their catch up days. They went out to lunch and the movies often. They talked over coffee. He was always a crutch when she complained about little things in her adult life, and he always listened, gave the best advice...

Elizabeth suddenly thought of his eyes--how they always looked at her the same way, ever since the two of them were young. She remembered how his eyes once kept her up at night. But all romantic notions had disappeared because she treasured his friendship above all. Yet, to this day, his smile still made her incredibly happy, comfortable, safe, and...

Elizabeth was left with the age old question. Could a friendship turn into a lasting romance? Ty seemed willing to play the part. And now...maybe...

...instantly, she thought almost effortlessly: It wouldn't be that bad.

Figured it was about time to reveal herself, she turned the corner and dramatically pushed open the door. Maggie and Ty whipped their heads around.

"Guys, I'm free."