waiting for the next exit

 Liam hadn't expected her to wait for him, but there she was in the clearing up from the Sanitarium as if she thought he was late. He opened the car door with the vehicle running, but he could see Julie was hesitating. 

"I thought you were back in Hong Kong," Liam said. "What are doing here?" Although, he said it as if he had to but didn't believe a word of it. He knew her clan always helped Mannie's clan. It was as if no matter how dangerous it got..they were in this together.

"When have I ever been to Hong Kong?" She asked. Oh, she might have looked like a nerd but he was sure she'd taken care of the bloody zombies in the sanitarium. Her kick was powerful and she could ping the metal peas sized marbles at her fingertips and be as deadly as they come. She moved so effortlessly it was beyond explaining and Liam had witnessed it a time or two, but she always let on it must have been someone else he was talking about. 

"Sounds like a vacation to me," he drove toward the city. Of course, neither had been on one. They were loyal even if they'd be having a late-night breakfast together in a few minutes.

"Just how do you it?" He asked about twenty minutes later when they were ordering the deluxe breakfast and coffee at the late night diner.

She only straightened her wire rims and looked at him every so serious without saying a word. He hated that about her, but he usually did the same to her. They'd gone years with this even silence and yet they worked side by side. She might as well have been his work wife.

"They're getting lazy," she said about the zombies. "It wasn't that hard." She was more than just a black belt. She was good with all sorts of arsenals. This was one nerdy girl he loved to keep company. If she would let him.

"I really don't think they'll have too much trouble," Julie said about Sadie and Mannie.

"I dunno. I think he likes her," Liam winced as he spoke of his observations between Mannie and Sadie.

"Are you sure?" She squinted back as if that could not be true. She drank her coffee black and so did he, but they didn't cut calories when the food came. Each had a side of pancakes they ate first as if dessert was always an appetizer. 

"When has Mannie ever been nice?" Liam sighed. "He's way too nice with Sadie."

She only nodded and started in on her sunny side eggs and bacon.

"How else will he see it through, if he doesn't get along with her?" She looked at him as if he was exactly like Mannie. As if she knew every aspect of Liam, but he didn't want to believe they were using each other.