Sweet Tooth [HS]

TWENTY SIX

Three days later.

It was nearly dark when Harry finally texted her. Max was leaning over her kitchen counter, sipping ice tea while drawing green eyes in her sketch book.

It was all she'd been drawing these days.

(19:03) Harry: i'm back in london maxie

(19:07) Maxie: Are you now?

(19:08) Harry: yes. come to my hotel

(19:08) Maxie: When?

(19:08) Harry: Jack Jack is coming to get u now

And sure enough, in twenty minutes she got the buzz telling her Jack was waiting for her downstairs. She'd packed a small bag stuffed with a change of clothes and a toothbrush, and had run her fingers briefly through the hair on top of her head, but hadn't had time for anything else before she rushed out of her flat.

Jack met her in the lobby and insisted on taking her bag as she slid into the back seat of the Audi.

"How are you, Miss Sweet?" Jack asked as he started driving.

"Good, thanks. And please, call me Max." Jack nodded. "How are you?"

"Fine, thank you," he said shortly, and continued driving.

Max would have attempted more conversation but Lexie's words were ringing through her mind at full volume.

She had to talk to Harry.

Today.

Was going to ask him what the fuck was going on and what the fuck he felt about her.

She knew Lexie was right. Knew that only by talking to Harry, she'd get answers to her questions, whether she liked them or not.

But Max was so scared, too. She sat there, biting her nails until they bled wondering if this made her look weak, to ask for his love like this. Was it weak to surrender herself, her feelings, her secrets, and ask to be all his?

She didn't know. Didn't know if she had ever felt love before him, didn't know if she'd ever feel love after him. And so she needed his answer.

Max just needed to know.

And so she stayed there in the back seat, sucking the blood from her fingertips as the car cruised down the street...

When they finally made it to the hotel, her heart was racing. Her mind was all jumbled up as she attempted to string together the words she was going to use in a matter of minutes- but it was useless. She was a nervous wreck. She was biting at her nails and bouncing her knees and her mind was blank and her chest was heavy and God Max couldn't breathe.

She felt like she was suffocating.

"We're here," Jack said quietly and Max's insides twisted up as the car rolled to a stop.

She only nodded in reply, unable to speak as she watched Jack slip out of the driver's seat and round the car to open the door for her.

"Here you are, Miss."

Max smiled at Jack kindly, feeling kind of stupid at being treated like this. She was just Max. She didn't need, didn't want this kind of treatment.

"Thank you, Jack," she said as she turned to face the hotel. And then she felt her smile falter. Felt her heartbeat stop as she took in the building- no, the castle, that Harry was staying in.

It was enormous, like some sort of palace, with long French windows and beautifully carved balconies and Max even spotted a gargoyle or two lurking up there on the roof. The grounds stretched far and wide around it, all bright, electric green, complete with manicured bushes and ancient statues and fountains which looked like they glittered under the moonlight. Max thought it looked sort of gothic, like a castle she'd seen in Disney princess films. Her mouth dropped open, and she had a distinct feeling that she did not belong here.