Chapter 10
Its been 2 and a half weeks since Brad left. I’ve been keeping my word and playing the role of the girlfriend perfectly. Its been easier then I expected.
For the first week at least.
I mean, I don’t really do much, just talk to him on the phone and the rest of the time he’s pretty busy with his football.
And Max? He avoided me for the first week and then it all got a bit silly when we realised we both have the same group of friends and well, the ‘lets ignore each other whilst we’re discussing the same topic of conversation’ thing wasn’t quite working.
So we’ve started talking and things have started becoming more ‘normal’ if there is any such thing. Even though its hard, I’m making conscious effort to remain detached.
Even harder since Courtney’s got herself some part time work at my workplace and Max is around more often then I like.
More often, meaning like just about every single day.
And yes, I did just say Courtney is my new work ‘buddy’.
At first I was brutally rude to her and mainly couldn’t stand being around her but over the last few days, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my opinions beginning to change.
I mean she’s not my best friend. But she’s bearable and even pretty funny at times.
Its 7:10 PM, I’m wiping down the counter tops and Courtney’s sorting out the money in the cash register, whilst Max sits at a table enjoying apple pie.
“You do realise that your uniform is really….horrific,” Max informs us, using his fork to lazily play with the apple pie that’s been lying in front of him for at least 45 minutes now.
“Your telling me?” Courtney chides, slamming the till closed.
“Why would dress two beautiful girls in such brown coloured… monstrosity is beyond me,”
I groan and roll my eyes at his blatant yet chauvinistic observation.
I can’t help wondering why he’s really here. I get that the so called ‘pact’ we made to keep away from each other was going a bit far, yet for the last week he’s done nothing but badger me and I don’t think I’m ready to have him around this often.
“I guess an answer to that question…” says Courtney struggling with the garbage, “...will remain a mystery, Evans.”
Evans? Isn’t that a little familiar?
“Are you done?” I work my way around the counter and toward the table he’s sitting at. I lean down to grab his plate, but he picks it up before I do and places the tiniest sliver of the dessert into his mouth.
“Not yet.” He says tongue slipping out of his mouth to lick off the sugary residue from his lips.
“Do you mind hurrying up?” I ask turning around and walking back to the counter, so that I just don’t stand and stare at his mouth. “We closed ten minutes ago.”
He gives me an impish look but makes no attempt what so ever to hurry himself up in anyway.
“I’ll tell you what the greatest mystery is.” He goes on as I struggle with an extremely stubborn stain on the counter. As I raise my head he throws a look straight at me, that make my legs feel all jelly-like. “A woman”
I raise my eyebrows mockingly and he gives me a teasing smile, before turning away.
I know this is his way of just irritating me.
But that’s not even the half of it. I’m stating the obvious when I say Max is a flirt. The whole female population knows that. But after everything that’s happened with us, I cant help but think he’s purposely hitting on me. I tried blaming it on the over activity of my imagination, but I can’t be imagining those suggestive looks and little innuendos he keeps throwing my way.
He’s teasing me.
Its low and it’s driving me insane. In more ways then one.
“I mean you praise her, you gift her.” Max continues, fiddling with the dessert which has no intention of eating, “ Give her the best sex she’s had. But women… they play with you. Mind games. They’re always one up. Never straight with you”
I groan out loud, thinking he’s talking out of his ass and I tell him as much.
“See?” Max says pointing at me like he’s proven his point.
“Men are worse by far,” Courtney mumbles. Picking up a huge bag of garbage, “And look at your track record for one. What’s the longest you’ve been with a girl? Three weeks? Men are hardly ever willing to have a meaningful relationship in the first place. They see a pretty girl and the thinking shoots right down to the nether regions,”
Point one to Courtney Sanchez.
I knew there was a reason I started to like the girl.
“Then they complain when women want the same thing. Aren’t I right Liz?” Before I can state my agreement, she disappears back door to take the garbage out.
I wash the cloth and place it next to the sink before grabbing the broom and sweeping the floor. As I turn back, I have to stop myself from walking into Max who’s decided to make his own way behind the counter.
I take a quick step back in surprise.
He passes the plate to me, “Here,”
I grab it from him and place it on the sink.
He leans against the counter, so he’s directly blocking me and the activity of my broom.
“Are you going to move out my way?” I sigh.
I mean the place is tiny. There’s no way I can sweep without banging into him.
He gives me a mocking smile, “Only if you ask politely”
I turn around and start sweeping the other side.
“Jeez!” he says from behind me, “Is it really that hard to be nice once in a while?”
My tongue slides inside my cheek to stop the small smile on my face, “Not really. But, I don’t take well to obstructions when I’m in a hurry.”
“Someone’s always in a hurry. Is there a reason for the constant urgency?” he asks walking around so he’s standing in front of me again.
“No.” I say curtly, “ As hard as it may seem to believe Max, Agnes’ sandwich and coffee bar isn’t exactly my favourite hangout spot.”
I turn back around and begin sweeping the floor and with every sweep I can feel his eyes boring into my back. The atmospheres changed since Courtney’s gone and his eyes on my back make my spine tingle, until little hairs on my neck are standing on edge.
Grr. Stop it. Stop it!
I turn around sharply and fix him with a glare, “What?”
He looks stunned for a second, like I’ve caught him doing something I wasn’t meant to catch him doing. But quickly, his expression turns nonchalant, “What?” he repeats my own words.
“Ugh.” I moan, frustrated, “ Just stop staring like that. It makes me feel uncomfortable…”
I turn back around and concentrate on the broom. Sweeping the same spot again and again. “Why are you here anyway Max?”
He walks around to face me and grabs the broom out of my hand.
“Hey-“ I jump to grab it back, but he just switches hands, his height over me, working to his advantage. “Give that ba—“
“Shh,” he places his finger on my lips, “Do I have to spell it out Lizzy?… “ he drops the broom to the floor with a clang that resonates blaringly around the empty shop, “…I miss you.”
I can’t speak.
So I cough. I shift on my feet and look around the shop before I eventually turn to look at him.
“Don’t do this Max...” I say in a desperate whisper.
I can’t do this. I really, really cant.
“Do what?- Listen, I’m taking what I said back…about being friends.”
Friends. Oh.
Weirdly, I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed.
His eyes are locked with mine and he’s got this audacious look about him, which as well as making me feel slightly on edge, makes an unsuppressible heat bubble through my body.
“I can’t bare to be away from you. I have to see you. And if it means being your friend. As hard as it is, so be it,”
He’s so close I’m almost pinned against the coffee machine.
I bite my lip unsurely. I mean its fair enough him saying that, but I know how hard it is to act on, especially now that we know how we feel about each other. “I don’t know Max…”
“This is getting stupid.” He laments, stopping me midsenstence.
I fire him a questioning look.
“I denied you a right to be my friend and now your denying me. The truth is, none of us have the right to take that away from each other. This whole thing is just turning into a ridiculous never ending circle”
I shift to my left so there’s distance between us.
Though the effect he has on me never lessens. No matter how far away he is. If Max is in the same room, my body knows it.
And god, do I know it.
“The reason I’m saying this,” I say thinking with my logical head, which is so hard to summon up when Max is around, that I’m actually quite proud of myself. “Is that I realise how right you were. Do you even know how hard it is for me to be around you without—“
He raises his eyebrows, “Without…?”
“Without touching you.” I whisper, “Without kissing you. God, without just having you as more then a friend,”
He smirks lightly. “Its called self restraint Lizzy”
And lets all welcome jerk king back.
“Don’t preach Max. I’m not the only one who has problems exercising it.” I cut.
“Try me Liz.” He says, tone changing, “Please.”
I sigh despondently because more then anything I want to be around him too. More then anything I want to be his friend and the torture of being without him is a million times worse then the torture of being just his friend.
“Do you think it will work?” I ask doubtfully.
He moves toward me, his hands coming up to claim my face, “God. I hope so…”
“Hope what?” Courtney asks peering at us from the back door.
We both take a step backward from each other as if we’ve been caught red handed.
“Um…We were hoping…uh,” I look at Max for help, who’s turned toward the counter so all I can see is his back. “We were hoping…to get really good grades this semester so we can hire a van and go for a road trip around the states summer!”
Max turns around and gives me a where the hell did you get that from look whereas Courtney buys my shitty tale hook line and sinker.
“Really? That sounds like so much fun” she says highly enthused.
“Yeah.” Max adds. “You should come along.”
“I’d love to,” she smile broadly following him to a table
“In fact,” he says mischievously, “scrap the states we should just go for a road trip around Europe.”
“Now that is a brilliant idea.” She says sliding into a seat opposite him, ” Its like you’ve read my mind. I’ve wanted to do something like that for absolutely ages.”
Max grins widely, “Mere genius isn’t a trait everyone possesses.” He says taking full credit for my brain wave.
As I watch from the counter, I can’t help but smile as Max works his learnt from the womb charm and makes elaborate grandiose plans for the summer, that he’ll probably never put into action.
I don’t realise I’m wearing the huge sappy grin on my face until a full five minutes later, where I scold myself for being such a dozy and force myself to get back to work.
Friends.
I can do that…
****
I've been really quite good with these updates
...Just don't get used to it okay? LOL. Thanks for all your FB. I do agree with most of you, I mean it would be best if Liz got rid of Brad or Brad found himself someone new....but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what they decide...Seriously, they DO seem to have a mind of their own
No actually don’t lol. I’m poor at the moment. I’m sooo chuffed that you guys like my Max. Thank you!