Max worked in the local diner in Williamsburg, sort of a run down, hole in the wall place. Did she love her job? No, but it was money and she had a roof over her head, even though it leaked occasionally. One night, just around close, the door swung open and 4 girls walked in. All of them had on dresses that barley covered skin, make up slightly smeared and purses that cost more than anything she's ever bought in her life. Rich was the only thing she thought of. So why would they be here?
"Excuse me! Can we get some service please?", the only blonde in the group asked. Max walks over to the table with a blank look. "What?" she said dryly. "Menus. Oh, my god shut up, no she didn't! And she's still with him?" the group of girls start giggling and gossiping. She grabs 4 menus from the front desk and lays them on the table. Earl, the cashier had already clocked off for the night and Han, the owner was nowhere in sight. "Four salads, 2 cheeseburgers and four fries!", another one in the group shouted out. Max took down the order and walked over to the food window. "Oleg, can I get..." she was saying before she was cut off, "I'm pretty sure China heard her yell, I got it."
The diner wasn't bad, but it wasn't up to health code standards. The bathrooms were rusted up, the stove hasn't been cleaned in god knows how long and Max was sure it was haunted. The question from earlier still lingers in her mind, why would these beautiful, rich girls be in a place like this? They're 5-star worthy and this can't even get a review on Yelp. They're just drunk and don't know where they are is all she can put together. "Pick up!", as the bell rings. She gathers the food on a tray and carries it to their table.
She has never heard so much laughter in this place before, it's slightly odd and nothing she is used to. They just gossip, slurred gossip, and used bitch too many times to count. But still, it's nice to have some personality in here. The drab colors, the 80's dated feel and the overall disgusting smell is enough to send any customer running. She's still stuck on why they are here. Yet, she finds her gaze on the blonde with the beautiful smile and adorable laugh. Staring was the best word for it, infatuation if you would. The blonde doesn't even notice her, as if she were invisible, but she can't help herself. The small lines around her lips, how she must brush her bangs out of her eyes occasionally. She tells herself to not be creepy and just hide in the freezer.
The group got quieter and then picked up again. It was a steady rhythm and she just figured they were talking in between bites. "Talk to her!" "Do it!" "Did you see her rack? I want mine done like that next month!" For sure they had to be talking about her, come on, the boobs? Max. She notices the blonde she's taken a liking to, stand up and walk towards the counter she was wiping down. "Umm, hi. I just wanted to say hi. Oh, wait I already said that. Sorry! But I think you're hot and my friends told me to come talk to you. I'm gonna go sit back down, I'm a bit wobbly right now." Shit, she thinks I'm hot? No, she's walking away! Stall! "Wait, what's your name?", sounding a bit desperate. The blonde turns around "Caroline. And from the tag, I'm going to assume you're Max? Cute." She could feel her cheeks heating up and her palms get sweaty. "Yes, it's Max." "Well Max, could I get your number? It would be a shame to let someone like you go.", Caroline asks smoothly. Wow, drunk Caroline's got game.
Caroline holds her phone out for Max and the brunette takes the phone into her hands adding her number to the contacts. "Uhh, here you go." "Thanks cutie! I'll call you sometime, yeah?" And with that, the group of girls stand up with their purses in their hand and walk out of the diner. A $100-dollar bill lays on the table and Max's eyes widen. Their bill was only 28. She took the bill and set it in the register. Then goes back to the table to clear, setting all the dishes in the kitchen and throws them in the washer.
The brunette walks back out to the dining area, "Oleg, clock off time. Let's go!", Max yells into the food window. She sees the lights turn off in the kitchen and Oleg walks through the door. "Ready." Once they punched out, and all the lights were off, they locked the door and went their separate ways.
Max only lived a few blocks away from the diner, so the walk wasn't that long. However, it was the middle of February in New York, so it was freezing. A black SUV was headed down the road, but the brake lights went off and the car stopped to a halt. The back-window rolls down and the blonde stuck her head out. "Do you need a ride? It's really cold out tonight." "No, it's okay, I'm just a few blocks up." The window rolled back up, but the door opened and she walks out, bundled up in a large coat. "Come on, let's go Max. I can take you home." "Really, I'll be okay, it's just 2 minutes away", she was trying to be nice, but was getting all kinds of butterflies in her stomach. "But what if I just want to spend more time with you? You know what, come back to my place with me!", she squealed with excitement. "I'm still in my uniform and I just met you." "I have clothes you can wear, and what better way to know me than spend time with me. C'mon let's go cutie, it's warm in the car." Max gives in and walks with Caroline to the car.
Ever since that day, the two spend so much time together. It's been 7 months since their initial meeting, and they spend every single day with each other. Max falls for her, while Caroline is full blown in love with this girl. Neither have talked about their feelings. It's hard to talk when they are constantly kissing or messing up each other's bed sheets. The two are content with where they are, but the other doesn't know that they each want more.
Caroline decides one day that she has to tell Max or she's going to burst. They just finished round 3 for the day and the chance of them staying awake for much longer was getting slimmer and slimmer every second. "Your heart is beating really fast. Was it that good?", Max asks with a smirk on her lips. "Something like that." "What's on your mind?", Max asks.
"What do you want?", Caroline bluntly asks. "What?", the small brunette asks. "What are we doing here, Max? Do you just want to be friends with benefits? Do you want to be together? Do you want me to stop falling for you because I don't want anyone else but you? I just don't know what you want.", she sighs and takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I don't want to mess this up with us, because it's good and it's fun and I'm so god damn happy, Max! I haven't smiled this much or giggled my way thorough movies like I do with you. For fuck sake, I'm in love with you, Max! I think you're gorgeous, spontaneous, snarky as hell. You're not afraid to be who you are, and you never let me go to bed feeling unwanted. I've been falling for you ever since you came over here the first night. You inspire me, you interest me, you just, make me fall in love.", Caroline finishes. Tear welling up in her eyes.
"You're in love with me? Me? Max?", she lays in Caroline's arm baffled. "Yes. Wholly, completely, crazy in love with you."
"I love you too.", Max said simply. She hugged Caroline as she craned her neck up to reach the blonde's lips. "Really?" "With everything in me."
"Be mine?" "Always."
Several weeks went by and they were blissfully happy. In their honeymoon phase, no cares in the world. Until Caroline got a call. It was her father, and she was terrified as to why he was calling. He only rang on her birthday, or holidays. "Hello, dad?" "Caroline, glad I reached you! How have you been?", he said cheerfully. "I've been really good, how are you?" "Great, just great. Hey, saw you and this, oh, what's her name? Ahh, thank you dear. Max! I saw you and Max in the Sunday paper. So when do I get to meet my future daughter-in-law? Hmm?", he probed. "Wait, you saw us in the paper? How come I didn't know this. And, well, yes, that's Max, she's my girlfriend as of a few weeks ago. I'm happy. You can meet her at Thanksgiving when we come down." "Sounds perfect sweetie. You mom and I love you, be good!" There's the good-ol' Channing cheer I've missed so much.
"Babe, pack your bags! We're going to L.A!"
