Who: Liz Ortecho & Max Evans When: Backdated: Early May Where: A Park What: Random Catch Up Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Now that Liz had a new job, she had been juggling work at Godfrey Industries and work a few nights a week at the diner. On top of that she was trying to figure out these dreams. Aside from the one she’d had about being lab partners with Max Evans, she’d had another one where her mother had up and left her, Rosa and their father. That one had been more upsetting than confusing like the first one, but in the end she was just glad that it was only in the dreams and that her mother was right where she was supposed to be in the waking world.
As confusing as her own dreams were, it was even more confusing that both Alex and Kyle appeared to be dreaming about the same time frame that she was. Not only that, but Kyle had gotten punched in the dreams and it had left him with a bruised jaw in real life. None of these things were supposed to happen with dreams and Liz was beginning to wonder if perhaps they should do some sort of sleep study. She had no idea if anyone had tried anything like that before when it came to these dreams, but being that she was a very science driven person, Liz wanted to know what caused these dreams.
She had just grabbed a coffee on her way home from Godfrey’s and had decided to take a shortcut through a park near her parents’ house, but had ended up stopping to sit on a bench about halfway through the park and started googling dreams on her phone.
Max hadn’t been kidding when he told Kyle that he was trying to exercise more. He actually was trying to go for a run or, bare minimum, a walk every day. And he did feel better being active. At least he had avoided running into anyone else. Or he had until now when, running through a park, he caught sight of a familiar woman. At least this time he had managed to avoid physically colliding with someone.
Jogging to the bench, he slid his earbuds out. “....Liz Ortecho?”
Liz froze slightly at the sound of that voice. That voice that she hadn’t heard in years until recently in her dreams. Looking up from her phone, she stared at Max for a moment before speaking, part of her unsure if she was actually awake or if she was dreaming, “Max Evans. Hey. How’re you doing?” While she knew that Max was in the area, she hadn’t expected to run into him despite the fact that she’d recently run into Isobel.
“I’m doing alright.” He offered an easy smile along with the words. “How have you been? It’s been awhile.” It was almost as if the universe was trying to tell him something by throwing various old classmates in his path.
“I’ve been good. I just moved back here about a month ago,” Liz couldn’t quite believe that Max was standing there in front of her. It had been years since they had last seen each other, but Liz would have recognized him anywhere. Of course it helped that she had just dreamt about him not too long ago as well. “Do you want to sit down?” She gestured to the empty spot on the bench next to her.
“Sure, thanks.” Max took the offered seat, twisted to face her. That she had moved back explained the sudden meeting. “What brought you back here, if you don’t mind my asking? Job?” Or something personal, perhaps.
“I stayed here, as you probably guessed. Civil servant...I’m a public defender.”
“I came back to help my parents with the restaurant, but I also just got a new job. Have you heard of Godfrey Industries?” Liz also couldn’t believe that she’d found such a good job opportunity so quickly. “Oh wow. That’s got to be a tough job at times.” She couldn’t imagine having to defend someone who you obviously knew was guilty.
“It sounds familiar.” But he likely wasn’t as familiar with it as Liz or someone in her field would be. “What are you doing exactly? Assuming it’s not too secret.” But he was teasing with that remark.
“And yes, it is definitely tough at times. Isobel went into law, too, but she took the high paying job defending the rich and mighty.” And no, there was no friction there.
“Biomedical Engineering. The same thing I was doing in Boston,” Liz said, taking a sip of her coffee. “I actually saw Isobel recently too. She was at the diner the other night when I went to see if my parents needed any help.” It was strange how all of a sudden Liz was seeing people she hadn’t seen in years, but at the same time it was bound to happen when they all still lived in Orange County. “So you both went into Law, huh? Whose idea was it first?”
“Depends on who you ask.” It was said lightly enough but they fought about most things. “I say it was me, Isobel can’t bear to be second in anything.” That they had seen each other was a surprise though not surprising he didn’t know about it. He and his sister didn’t really talk.
“I ran into Kyle recently, too. Apparently it’s the month for blasts from the past.”
Liz nodded, “Yeah, him, Alex and I all just happened to move back to the area at the same time.” She still couldn’t quite believe that they had all happened to move back at the same time. It seemed improbable for something like that to happen, but Liz was very happy that it did happen because it meant that, not only did she get to see her two best friends more, but she didn’t have to go through this whole dream thing alone since they were dreaming too. “And no, we didn’t plan it at all.”
“Mmhmm.” He was teasing, though, grin firm on his features. “Are you glad to be back? I can’t really imagine living anywhere else so I’m probably a bit biased.”
“I am actually. I hadn’t planned to come back, but I’m glad that I did, because now I get to see everyone I haven’t seen in years,” Liz smiled, thinking about everyone and oddly enough Max was included amongst those people, “Have you never wanted to go anywhere else?”
“Not really, no,” Max shook his head. “I must seem pretty pathetic, huh? I just...I like it here. I can’t really imagine living anywhere else.” Nor had he ever really wanted to. “And I’ve got an okay life here. At least I’m helping people.” That was definitely important to him.
Liz shook her head, “That’s not pathetic at all. For me, I just had to get out. I needed to see what else was out there.” Everyone has a different reason for leaving or staying and Liz respected all of them, “I’m glad that you figured out what you wanted though. That’s the main thing that matters.” Her lips turned up into a smile at Max.
“Got out, saw the world, and decided to come home again?” Grin was friendly, though. “Yeah, figuring out what you want is the important part. Hopefully you have some of that figured out as well.”
“Not even. There is still so much I want to see, but I guess it’ll all come in time.” Liz wanted to plan a trip to Europe at some point. It had been on her bucket list for awhile now and she hoped to do that within the next year or so, “I do. My career is actually the only thing I really have figured out.”
“Knowing you, I’m sure you’ll have the rest figured it in no time.” Liz had always seemed to know what she wanted. Traveling the world being at the top of the list. Max had been pretty set on his own path, though. Helping people, finding a path in life, that was what mattered most to him.