When Stars Align

Chapter 3

"Please tell me where we're going Max!"

"No! It's a surprise," he replies on the phone.

"Fine. At least tell me how I should dress!"

"Fancy, I guess."

"Ok I've got to go get ready."

"Pick you up in an hour?"

"Sounds great! Bye."

I settle on a navy blue fitted dress that stops just above my knees, a pair of yellow heels to add some color, and a yellow necklace. I curl my hair in loose waves and apply my makeup. I am just finishing up when the doorbell rings.

I hear my parents open the door and rush downstairs before my dad can interrogate him.

"Max!" I say with a smile.

"You look stunning, Celia," he says dreamily. I can't help but blush.

"Have her home by 10:00 p.m." my dad says.

"Yes sir," and he shakes my dad's hand, proof that he's not always a bad-boy.

He opens the passenger door of his old Toyota Camry for me and then we're off. I turn up the radio and counting stars is playing. I start singing along in an off-key voice and he joins me with an equally off-key voice. We sing along to every song we know the words too and hum along to the others.

He turns into a shopping center and parks.

"Where are we going? I don't see any restaurants here," I say, puzzled.

"Oh, we're eating in a little while. Right now, we're going to play laser tag."

"Seriously!? This is what you made me dress up for?" I manage to say between laughing.

"Laser tag is a very serious event, and we should honor it by dressing nice," he remarks, seeming offended by my laughter. I can't help but laugh hysterically as he calls my behavior extremely disrespectful to laser tag. We climb out of his car and walk towards the building. We get several weird looks as we walk into the building, but Max just shouts, "Take a picture! It'll last longer!" And everyone averts their eyes while I almost die of laughter.

When we start the round of laser tag we are on opposing teams so that it's fair, because everyone else there is under twelve, but by the end of the round we are teaming up on the little kids. We are having a lot of fun when he decides to shoot me, but misses.

"Oh, it's on! Next time you try to shoot me, you better not miss!" and I chase him around the arena, both of us shooting at each other, until he finally hits me and I pretend to collapse and die.

"Yes! I am victorious!" He shouts with both hands held over his head, and I lift my arms and shoot him. After that we are kicked out of the laser tag arena because we weren't playing by the rules and we go eat dinner at the nearby mall.

When we are seated at California Pizza Kitchen and looking at our menus, a girl at a nearby booth keeps turning around and glances at Max. I didn't think anything of it at first. I just assumed she thought he was hot or something. After we get our food and start eating she approaches the table.

"Really Max!? Found yourself another girl to cheat on!? All you are and ever will be is a liar!" Looking at me she says, "Get away while you can. He'll break your heart like he did mine. He'll leave you crying while he's with some other girl." With that, she turns around and walks off.

"Celia, it's not what you think, she's a..."

He keeps talking but I'm no longer listening. Hell, I'm no longer capable of listening. All I can do is sit there and stare at where she stood, advising me not to trust him. I finally trust myself to speak and interrupt his rambling.

"Don't bother trying to explain. It's actually quite easy to understand. You're a hypocrite. At that party a few weeks back you told me what a jerk Jake was for making out with Emily and crap like that, but obviously you've done basically the same thing to that girl and who knows how many others! Probably even me!" I stand up, grab my purse, and walk out of the restaurant. Even before I look behind me, I know that he is following me. As I reach the parking lot I find a bench to sit on while I call Natalie for a ride.

"Celia, what are you doing?"

"Getting a ride."

"I brought you here and I'll take you home."

"Save it. I'm calling Natalie to pick me up."

"The hell you are!" He shouts as he finally catches up to me. I start to dial the number on my phone and he grabs my wrist, twisting it backwards.

"Max you're hurting me! Let go!"

"Hang up. Now." He says, suddenly calm, making me nervous. I pressed the end button on my phone but he still wouldn't let go of my wrist. He was gripping way too tight, and he was going to be sorry. Who was he to think he could push me around!?

"Max let go of me or I will make a scene," I demand.

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"I said no. You're going with me and you don't have a choice in the matter. Now get up."

I stand up quickly, partly angry, mostly afraid of this new Max who is still gripping my wrist and appears to have no intention of letting go. He half guides, half drags me to the passenger side of his car and opens the door expectantly.

"Get in."

"Max, let's just talk things out here. I don't think you should be driving."

"I said get in." He commands.

I climb in without further argument and he slams the door behind me.

We drive in silence, besides the radio, him staring at the road, me staring out the window, wishing I could text Natalie or even my parents for help, but he'd notice and it would just make him more angry. I don't think I should piss him off any more. Honestly, I'm afraid of what he might do. I was starting to calm down a little when he turned onto my street, ready to forget this night every happened and fall into my soft sheets and down comforter, when he drove by my house.

"Max, turn around you missed my house."

He doesn't answer, doesn't look at me, just keeps on driving, humming along to the radio.

A/N: Weren't expecting this were you? When it comes to this story, expect the unexpected!