Getting Closer

Chapter Twenty Five - Juliet

After dropping Seth off, halfway to our neighborhood, Max says, "Are you really that mad at me?"

I cross my legs and look out the car window. Sometimes I wonder why I'm even doing this in the first place. "I'm assuming you know how much you get on everyone's nerves." Scoffing, my not-boyfriend stays silent. He does know how much of an asshole he is but I've seen the side to him that not even Charlie and Seth see often. Sighing, I finally admit, "Kate asked me a couple days ago if there's something between us."

At the revelation, Max tightens his grip on the steering wheel. "And you didn't want to fucking tell me till now?"

"If Kate knows, then Charlie knows."

Max presses his lips together. "Is that why they've been watching us like that?"

I nod. Kate just fucking watches us with those beady eyes and I've caught Charlie studying us as well lately. They know something and I'm just not ready to admit to everyone that there has been something going on since the very beginning. "I obviously denied it but Kate - as it turns out - is quite perceptive."

Pulling over onto a residential road, Max parks the car and turns to me. "Is that why you're ticked with me? Because I can't hide that I find you attractive?"

"I'm mad at you because you're a prick. Like all the time."

"And?" I frown and refuse to answer because the truth isn't something I want to face. "Jules," he says softly. "We've been doing this for weeks now. You know I'm not a nice person."

But you are with me. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I look out my side mirror. "Just take me home. I'm tired."

Max sighs dramatically. "What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry for mumbling some dick statement to Kate? Because I fucking won't. I don't like her and I'm not going to pretend that I do just because you want me to act a certain way."

"Just take me home," I reiterate as I refuse to look at him. Why am I mad at him? For quickly rushing to get me new clothes? For waiting outside the women's bathroom, handing a nice lady said new clothes so she could deliver them to me? For holding my ruined clothes in a baggie all day? For looking at me the way he has been?

For a long time, neither one of us say anything or move from our spots. Then, "I'm not him, Jules." My whole body freezes as he voiced my concerns. How the bloody hell did he- "I know it's hard, but you have to stop comparing me to him." And though I don't want him to, he adds, "Anyways, I'm not your boyfriend so there's nothing to compare."

Feeling my cheeks warm up, I sink into the seat even more. "Can we just go now?"

Sighing - again - Max takes us back to our neighborhood and when I note that my parents' car is gone, I have him pull up in our driveway. Not getting out right away, I try to calm my nerves before saying, "I know you're not Michael. I know. And I know I shouldn't compare you two and I know we aren't dating but this still takes a lot of emotional vulnerability to do this. I may be confident and know what I want but I've only ever been with Michael before. This is all new to me, Max, and I'm so scared."

Leaning over to me, he turns my head towards him and rubs my chin with his thumb. "Scared of what?"

Of falling for you, I want to blurt out but my tongue won't let me communicate that to him. "That you're going to hurt me," I say quietly instead.

As I stare into his eyes, I see the boy that only I get to witness. When he's with his friends, he's a completely different person and I like that I'm the only one that gets to see him like this. Softening up for me, he says, "I would never hurt you, Jules." Even though Michael has said that a million times before, I somehow believe Max. Giving me a half smile, he gently rubs my lips with his thumb. "If anything, you'd be the one to break my heart."

With my heart pounding in my chest, I know why he thinks this way. Of course I've seen the signs of it all and I warned him it would turn out like this. Trying to deny we may have feelings for one another, more than just attraction, I kiss his thumb until I'm leaning more into him. "I'll hold you to that, Torres," I whisper into his lips.

Sighing of relief, he quickly pulls me closer and I'm once again swept up into him. I open my mouth for him which in turn leads to the both of us desperately wanting more. Licking my tongue, he pulls away to gasp, "Come back to my house."

Smiling, I kiss his cheek. "I shouldn't. I need to clean those clothes before Seth's stomach acid completely destroys them."

Snorting, he kisses my nose then nods. "Already breaking my heart," Max whispers.

"Shut up," I laugh and retrieve the tainted plastic bag from the back seat. "I'll text you later," I say as I exit the car. Going over to the driver's side, he rolls down the window and before he can react, I kiss him then bite his bottom lip. "Stop being a prick to your friends and Kate. The tough guy act is getting old." I stick my tongue into his mouth quickly to show him he can have me all he wants if he stops acting like a douche.

As I back away, he grins at me. "We'll see." Backing out of the driveway, he shouts, "See you later, lover."

Even though I flip him off, I still have the biggest grin plastered on my face. What an asshole.