Blame

Chapter 19 (Her)

FIVE MONTHS LATER

        Max stared at the papers in front of her and could barely see the words. They were blurring and didn't make any sense. She looked up at the time and realized it was after one in the morning. She hadn't realized how quickly time had passed. Max was cramming for her last exam, like ever. This was it. She was in finals week and tomorrow was the last testing day.

        She thought school and college would never end, but here she was. At the finish line. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. It was time to go to sleep. Max changed into a sleeping tee and turned off the lights. Crawling underneath the covers she had a passing realization that she needed to call Martin sometime soon. They needed to set a day for her to come out to London, and like an idiot she laid smiling at the dark wall. She was ready to finish this chapter in her life and start a new one, maybe one with Dan.

*        *        *

        The graduation ceremony was just as long and exhausting and fulfilling and exciting as one could imagine. Maxine was running on very little sleep, but it didn't fade the fact that she was graduated; she was finished with school, for good. 

        The first speaker came up and then the next, and then there was a song. Max looked over the crowd and caught a glance from Katie, sitting in front of her. They grinned at each other and Katie gave her a thumbs up. Soon, the name-calling began and the process of giving out diplomas. The lines were long and winding, but finally finally Maxine Lesley Wilkerson was called out. She walked proudly across the stage with a huge smile and took her diploma with boldness and gratitude. This was it; this is what she and hundreds of students worked for all of these years. 

        The after party was very fun, but exhausting as well. She went to eat out with her parents and grandparents at a local diner, and it was here that Martin gave her a call.

        "Excuse me." Max smiled at her family and got up from the table, lifting the phone to her ear. 

        "Hey Max. Congrats!" Martin said with mild sincerity in his voice.

        "Thanks."

        "Okay, so I wasn't kidding about hiring you right after you graduate. I'm ready whenever you are." There was a long pause as Maxine took it all in. She felt like she had no room to breathe in between school and now a career, but nevertheless, she agreed.

        "Great. I'll give you a week off, and then we'll talk about plane tickets and all that good stuff. Enjoy your time off." Martin chuckled and hung up, causing Max to roll her eyes, but she also couldn't help smiling. She had an amazing opportunity to work with Bastille again and putting all of the Dan drama aside, not many people could say that.

*        *        *

        A week seemed to pass by without a pause. It seemed Max was just at the graduation ceremony, and then the next day she had to get up to catch her flight. It was at a bright five in the morning when her alarm went off. Within a half hour she was ready and packed, and her parents took her to the airport. Katie had called her to say her good-byes and it was bittersweet.

        "Don't cry, ma. You know I'm a phone call away, and this isn't so different from me being in college." Max embraced her mother, almost tearing up herself.

        "Yes, but this is so far away. And we just imagined to have you to ourselves for at least a little bit before your career started off."

        "Oh come on Anne, this is a great opportunity for our little girl." Her dad pulled her into a hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek. They all said their final good-byes and Max boarded the plane, wiping at her face. She gave her parents one last wave and turned around to followed the line of people inside.

*        *        *

        "Well look who it is." Max heard the all-familair voice behind her and turned around to meet Martin's beaming face. 

        "Nice to see you too." She smiled at him and he began taking her bags in his hands.

        "Are you ready to work?" He asked as he led the way through the crowded airport.

        "You should know I was born ready." She replied boldly.

        They then settled into a taxi cab and Martin gave them directions to their destination. It was forty-five minutes later that they pulled up to a tall building and surprisingly Max remembered it as Dan's and Kyle's.

        "Okay before you panic, you must know this is only temporary. The place I got for you didn't go through just yet. It'll only be available sometime next week. So for now, you'll be bunking with Dan and Kyle. I know it's not professional, but this is all I could muster." Martin started apologetically and Max was speechless. She hasn't spoken to Dan since the concert in Seattle. Max remained quiet as Martin began taking out her luggage from the trunk.

        "Those buggers could've helped....," Martin mumbled as he placed a duffel bag on his back and began rolling one of the suitcases into the building. Max slowly followed him and felt a nervous feeling in her stomach. Riding the elevator to the fourth floor they unpiled and Martin let himself into their flat.

        "Boys, your guest is here." Martin boomed out, dropping her bags on the floor.

        Kyle's face appeared from behind a corner and he grinned, charging toward Max.

        "Sorry we couldn't meet you hon. We had a thing and just got home." He wrapped her up and hugged her tightly.

        "Man it's been way too long." Kyle smiled and she returned the favor. Oh how she missed him and the boys.

        "Thanks for having me. I wasn't aware I was staying here until Martin dropped the bomb five minutes ago." Max made a point to stare at Martin and he avoided her glance sheepishly.

        "Oh, well I promise we won't get in your hair and we'll try not to make it awkward." Kyle winked and she playfully punched him. Then, Dan entered the room looking like he just woke up. His eyes lit up and he offered a small smile.

        "Max...," Her name escaped as a whisper as he made his way toward her, grabbing her into a hug. She was instantly overwhelmed by the sheer touch of his, everything was so familiar.

        "Alright, looks like you've all got this. I'm leaving now, and Max I want you to come with the boys tomorrow to the studio and we'll talk about the plan and job I have for you." Martin said from behind them and Max pulled away from Dan reluctantly.

        "Thank you Martin." She said and he walked out with a small wave.

        "Here, let me help you into your room. You'll take mine and Dan and I will share for a few days." Kyle picked up one of her bags and began walking down the hallway.        

        "I really hate kicking you out of your room like that." Max bit her lip, all of a sudden feeling embarassed. 

        "Oh no worries. We're just happy you're back and we get to work together again." Dan said gently. She nodded and then followed Kyle. She took in the familiar smell of the flat and familiar rooms and walls. When she started getting close with Dan last summer, they had spent quite a lot of time in his flat. The boys liked to throw parties there, and she loved the cozy feeling it had brought with it.

        "Here you are." Kyle dropped her bag on the bed and turned around, facing her with a grin.

        "This is so nice of you, thank you." She smiled at him.

        "Feel at home, Max. Our home is your home. Welcome back." He squeezed her arm with affection and left the room, leaving her to unpack and settle in. She inhaled and nodded, this was home indeed.