Chapter 21

*I know this should have been up ages ago. But better late than never right? Comments are appreciated : ) actually, they're encouraged : ). Oh and go check out a story, Heartbreak Warfare, that I'm writing with a friend of mine. Okays, enjoy:)*


I wrapped my arms around him the moment he opened the door. He hesitated but pulled me in tight and shut the door behind me. I didn’t want to let go, but he did.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I told him”

He swallowed a lump in his throat and stepped back, “what did he say?”

“He said we’ve hurt each other too much, and that we’re not right for one another”

“I’m sorry sweetie” he said, “but I’m surprised you came here…after what happened”

I just sighed and ran my hand through my hair, “you were the first person that popped into my head. You’ve been an amazing friend this last little while”

He just smiled, “well I’ll be here for however long you need me”

“Thank you. Do you have a drink? I need one”

I heard a knock on the door but I ignored it and went for a drink and Max went to answer it. I heard raised voices, but it was muffled enough to not know who was at the door or what they were even saying. I cracked open the drink and took a peek around the corner, Kris.

I stepped out, took a sip and just stared at him. Kris saw me over Max’s shoulder, Max just turned to face me. I just crossed my arms over my chest and kept my eyes on Kris.

“What?” I asked.

“You wouldn’t let me finish” he said.

“You don’t want me, I get it, I’m fine with that”

He walked over to me and tried to pull my arms away from my chest. I kept them glued to my chest, bottle still hanging from my hand. He pulled it away and set it on the coffee table, and finally he released my arms from my chest and took my hands.

“You are the love of my life. There is no one else I would rather spend my life with”

“Then why the hell did you just say “we need time apart”” I snapped.

“Because we do”

“Then don’t fucking come here and tell me how much you love me. Unless you want me now, I’m staying here”

“Why here?”

“He’s been my friend”

“That is not what I fucking heard” he said

“Don’t start”

“I know you want more than friends” he said turning to Max.

“Kris, there is nothing happening between us okay? There never was and there never will be” I said grabbing his arm. You could tell he was fuming.

“Kris I wouldn’t do that to you” Max said.

“He’s just being a friend” I said, “So please just go, and when you’re ready for me, you give me a call”

“Fine” he muttered.

He left the apartment and I just grabbed the bottle off the table and almost drank it all at once right there. He stopped me and pulled it away from my face, “Jules, drinking won’t help anything”

I just sighed and wrapped my arms around him, it was all I could do at this point.

*Max’s POV*

She was frustrated more than anything and I had no idea what I was supposed to do at this point. Her arms around me was all I wanted, and she had no idea how much I wanted to take advantage of this moment, but I couldn’t do that to her, or to Kris.

I pulled away from her avoiding eye contact, her blue eyes drew me in every time and I wasn’t going to fall for it. I turned away from her immediately and considered getting a drink for myself.

“You ok?” she asked. As if she didn’t know.

“Not really” I said, “I think you know that”

“If this is about how you feel Max, I--”

“Don’t” I said quietly, “I’m not going back to that again”

“So what, you just want to avoid it? Avoid the fact that you’re in love with me?”

“What does it matter Julie?” I snapped turning around, “You don’t feel the same way”

She just sighed, and I watched to see if she would respond. I knew I had her with that. It’s Kris, it always has been and always will be.

“You know something” I said, “This may not help anything, but I’m going to tell you anyways”

“What?”

“The moment you first stepped into that dressing room, when you first started working for us, you had me. I had no idea how I would even tell you because I knew I couldn’t do anything to jeopardize your job, and when Kris came along, I saw how you looked at him and I knew that I had no chance anymore…”

“Max…”

“I guess I’ll just have to get over it” he half laughed, “can it really be that difficult?”

She didn’t say anything and I knew I had ruined everything by telling her that. I just sighed and finally gave in to getting myself a drink. Before I could do anything I felt her hand on my arm and she spun me around.

“You don’t get the last word”

“What?”

“Stop talking” she said. I didn’t say anything and she just took my face in her hands and kissed me. She pulled back and I was in a complete daze.

“Wow…”

“No one has ever said anything like that to me before, Kris never even talked like that…”

“It’s the truth”

She just smiled and my heart started to race. I felt different around her, she made me a different person, a different me. A me that I liked. A me that I never even realized I had.