"Max, someone's looking at ya," Tom mutters, jerking his head towards the girl with the auburn hair, standing in the corner, her eyes piercing through the smoke and music.
Max grins, his mouth upturning crookedly as he rests his gaze on her. That one girl he sees everywhere, in every place he goes. "Well then."
"C'mon mate," Nathan groans, downing another drink, "talk to her! Just staring at her isn't gonna do anything."
"Maybe I will," Max retorts, and before any of them can stop him, he's off, pushing through the crowd, past Jay and Tom, past a few girls who try and grab him, towards that one person standing in the corner, her flow-y white dress out of place in this environment where tight skirts and show-all tops reign the fashion kingdom.
"Hey there," he croons, coming to a stop in front of her.
"Hello," she replies, her soft New York accent almost inaudible over the loud music, "what's your name?"
"Max," he replies, "you?"
"Emily." She smiles, and Max feels his stomach do somersaults. She's perfect, and he barely knows her.
"Would you like a drink?" he asks politely, and she nods.
"Soft drink though please, not sure my mom would like me coming back drunk. Technically I'm not supposed to be here, but I was bored and doing nothing is annoying, sitting about in a hotel. I'm on holiday, but found out the legal drinking age over here is 18 so I thought I'd check out the nightlife." She takes his hand, and they begin to make their way through the crowd.
Max laughs at her story, "sounds like you're a bit of a rebel love."
She smirks. "Maybe I am. So how old are you, Max?"
"24. You?"
"18."
"You don't look it," Max remarks, as they arrive at the bar.
Emily grimaces, "I'm hurt, are you trying to say I look younger? I have ID mister!" She swats at his shoulder playfully.
Max laughs, batting her hand away. "I meant you look older," he sniggers, before turning to the barman. "Beer and a cola please."
"Sure thing mate."
Emily watches wide eyed, as the man deftly pours cola and beer into glasses at the same time, adding some ice and a twist of lemon to each. "Having fun darlin'?" he comments as he slides them over.
"That was really cool! Wish I could do that!" she replies, starstruck, and the barman guffaws.
"Yeah well, you're a Yank so back home you'll be waiting two more years before you can see these skills." He winks at her.
Emily blushes and ducks her head, and Max laughs. She really is cute, he thinks, while reaching over to squeeze her shoulder.
"Hey Ems," he says, "he's just having a joke."
"I know," Emily giggles, "but it's weird having someone you don't know wink at you-"
"MAX!"
"Oh god," Max groans, and turns in his stool to face an extremely drunk Tom, propped up on Siva's shoulder.
"Hi Max," Siva mutters to him, as Tom slumps into a chair.
"Emily, this is Tom and Siva, two of my mates," Max says through gritted teeth, gesturing to the two boys. Tom finally takes notice of Emily and his mouth falls open. Emily looks back at him, he's pretty good looking but quite clearly out of his face.
"Well who's this?" he leers, and Emily recoils, smelling the alcohol on his breath.
"I promise you he's not this creepy in real life," Siva mutters to her, before lightly pinching Tom on the cheek, "snap out of it mate, you've got a girlfriend."
Tom tilts his head slightly, before realisation hits him and he leaps out his seat. "I do don't I? Where is she?" but before he can get an answer he's sped off to the toilet.
Everything is silent for a moment, before they all start to laugh raucously.
"I-will-never-understand-that-boy-" Max gasps, tears running down his face, and Emily clutches onto his arm and giggles.
Siva is a little more reserved, a small smile on his face. "I better find him," he sighs, "I'll leave you two be." He walks off after Tom, shaking his head minutely.
Emily hiccups a little, before wiping her eyes. "Are your friends always this mad?" she asks, and Max nods.
"You haven't even met Bird- sorry, Jay yet," he says, "but that's for another time. For tonight, you're all mine." He winks before taking her hand again and leading her to the dance floor.
Before they know it, it's two in the morning and Emily's phone is filled to the brim with angry text messages from her mother. Max leads her out into the street, and there they stand.
"I'm sorry I have to go," Emily says subduedly, her face illuminated in the pool of light the street lamps shine down.
"It's fine, I understand," Max replies, before handing her a slip of paper, "my number."
Emily blushes and accepts it, folding it into her purse pocket. "Well, I guess this is goodbye," she sighs, but before she can turn away Max has cupped her face in his hands and captured her lips in a sweet kiss.
Neither of them wants to pull away, but unfortunately Emily's phone goes again, and she has to break it off. "I'll see you soon," she murmurs, squeezing his hand, and suddenly she is gone.
Nathan comes up from behind Max, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I knew something would happen if you talked to her. You owe me," he snickers, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Piss off Nath," Max replies, tweaking his ear, and the two go back inside to find the rest of their boys.
