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DUN DUN DUNNN! Here comes the drama! ;)

Also the picture above is of Liz. 

~*~*~

Chapter Thirteen

"Have you figured out what you're gonna get him yet?" Liz wondered curiously.

"Unfortunately, no," Liam replied sounding stressed, "Chase's birthday is in two days and I have no idea what to get him."

The two best friends were sitting at one of the outdoor tables at school. It was lunch time and both Adam and Chase were still getting their food which is the only reason its safe enough to bring up this topic. Liam glanced around to double check that Chase wasn't anywhere in sight before turning back to Liz.

"Well what are you doing after school today?" She asked.

He shrugged thinking about it. "I don't really have any plans. Homework, but besides that not much. Why?"

Liz pushed up her tray and leaned forward on the table. "Because after our last class you, me, and Adam are going to the mall," She proposed. "We will stay there all night if we must, but we will help you find a gift for Chase."

For a moment, Liam considered declining her off, but then he mentally slapped himself in the head and swallowed his pride. "Thanks Liz," he said. "You're the best."

She laughed and flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Tell me something I don't know."

They both laughed and smiled.

Glancing past him, Liz sobered up instantly and discretely placed a finger to her lips to silence him. Chase and Adam joined them both at the table. Liam greeted his boyfriend with a quick kiss before sending a sly smile to Liz.

Between the three of them they should be able to find the perfect present for Chase's eighteenth birthday, or at least, Liam hoped they would.

~*~*~

The mall was surprisingly busy for a weekday. Toddlers yelled and laughed as they rode on the coin operated rides with their parents' supervision. The sound of children playing could faintly be heard over the beeps and noises of the arcade. Liam recognized a few girls from school at the makeup counter while a few of the jocks were at the sports memorabilia store. The food court was even crowded and loud from the various conversations.

It almost seemed like everyone suddenly decided to skip the rest of the school day and to instead come to the mall. Liam wouldn't have been surprised if that actually had been the case.

Adam and Liz both threw out suggestions as the three of them walked past the stores of the mall. "Does Chase like sports?" Adam asked him.

Shaking his head, Liam explained, "Watching the Olympics is about as far as his sports interests go. Other then a brief few weeks every four years, he doesn't care for it."

"How about clothes?" Liz offered.

Both Liam and Adam stared at her with a simultaneous look of horror.

"What?" She asked noting their expressions.

"Have you ever received clothes from a friend or family member?" Adam questioned.

She nodded slightly confused.

"And have you always liked them?" Liam added.

Exasperated by the questions, Liz rolled her eyes and huffed, "Yes."

With a surprised look on his face, Adam said, "Well you're probably the only one. Very rarely do people actually like the clothes they are given on Christmas and birthdays."

Liz shifted her curious gaze from Adam to Liam. "It's true," he confirmed.

"Whatever," she replied absently. "What does Chase like?"

Liam thought about it. The two of them were still in that "getting to know each other" phase of the relationship. It helped that they were friends beforehand, but there was still much to learn. Racking his brain, he tried to remember some of the things that Chase had told him recently. Suddenly a thought popped into his head. I'm so stupid, he chided himself. Why didn't I think of this sooner?

"What?" Adam asked noticing Liam's wide-eyed look.

"I know what to get Chase," he responded vaguely.

"Hallelujah." Liz laughed.

Liam smiled from his spot as he walked beside Liz and behind Adam. Suddenly though Adam froze in his spot causing Liam to bump into him. Moving to face him, he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Adam?" Even Liz looked concerned by the look on his face.

He didn't seem to hear either of them. Adam's face was pale and his wide eyes were locked on something in front of them. Nervously, Liam glanced forward only to have his own eyes widen at the sight.

"Oh my god," Liz exclaimed.

Shocked, only one word managed to escape Liam's mouth. Well not so much a word as much as a name.

"Brody."

~*~*~

A moment of shock shifted through the group. No one dared to speak. Not even Brody was stupid enough to speak and risk angering any of them. Glancing at his two friends, Liam almost laughed at the insanity of the situation. Each of them had a personal beef with Brody. He would be very lucky if he escaped this situation unscathed.

In all reality both Liam and Adam disliked him for what Brody did to them in the past, but Liz . . . oh, Liz practically had steam exploding out of her ears. Not only did Brody have sex and then dump her sister, but he also got her pregnant and hasn't even bothered to call Anne or even attempt to see Zoey once in the last four years.

Both he and Adam may hate Brody, but Liz despises him.

After awkwardly clearing his throat, Brody softly spoke up, "Hey Liz. Adam . . . Liam it's uh . . . it's nice to see you guys again."

Liz glared at him. "I'd say the same, but my mom didn't raise a liar."

Brody shuffled his feet nervously. "I guess I deserve that."

"You deserve a lot worse then that." Liz scoffed. "I'd show you what you deserve but I don't feel like being arrested for assault."

There wasn't even a word to properly describe the intensity of the relationship. It was like a tennis match. Liam's head bounced back and forth between them as they spoke. The interaction was also like a bad car crash. Everyone wanted to slow down and watch the horror that was happening before them. At the moment, Liam could barely tare his eyes away.

"What are you even doing here Brody?" Liz questioned him. "You left three years ago and you haven't been back since. Why now? My family is better off without you. Adam and Liam are better off without you."

"I'm sure they are." Brody's voice sounded almost . . . sad.

"Then why are you here?" Liz demanded stubbornly.

He took a breath before answering, "To make amends."

Before either Liz or Liam could even react or respond, Adam did so for them. Without a word he stepped forward and punched Brody in the face sending him to the floor. Then refusing to wait for his friends Adam left the scene. Liz and Liam both followed leaving Brody to sit in pain on the floor of the mall. 

~*~*~

Well what'd ya think of that? I couldn't finish this story without Brody getting punched at least once. I considered having Liam do it and I also considered having Liz or Chase do it, but there was something right about having Adam be the one to punch him. I have to admit it was kinda fun hehe. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I will try and have the next one up in another few days. 

~Kaylee

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