Blame

Chapter 20 (Him)

        He didn't know how to act when Max showed up. But as soon as he laid eyes on her, it all sort of came to him. Dan didn't hesitate when he wrapped her into a hug and it felt right, once again. The last several months have whizzed by but he didn't really know how much he had missed her until she was in his arms again.

        Kyle went to show Max her room and she followed him. Dan stood in the hall and looked after her. She was really finally here.

        "You gonna be okay mate?" Kyle appeared in the room again and Dan nodded.

        "So do you want to call the boys?" Kyle asked.

        "Uh, I mean we could. Maybe she'll be tired or something...," Dan offered, but then Max walked out of her room and joined them in the living room. She settled into a sofa and Kyle said, "We wanted to invite Woody and Will as well as some of the people you know from last summer as a little welcoming party. Would that be okay? If you want to rest up that's perfectly fine as well."

        "That sounds lovely, actually." Max smiled at him and Kyle got up to call his buddies.

        Dan stood awkwardly but then settled in across from her.

        "So congrats on your graduation." he finally mustered a subject for small talk and she thanked him.

        "Yeah its been a little overwhelming. Martin literally called me that day and I feel like I didn't even have time to breathe in between, you know?" She confided in him, and then instantly felt embarrassed so she lowered her face, playing with the strings of the pillow.

        "He has the tendency to stress people out." Dan replied looking at her. She was so beautiful when her shyness came out, but really she was beautiful all the time. 

        "Okay, so everyone's coming at nine. We'll order pizza and it should be good." Kyle came in with a grin.

        "That sounds great." Max beamed at him, grateful for the intervention froom the awkwardness with Dan.

        "Also, your special little friend is coming as well." Kyle said with a sly smile. Max gave him a confused look and he continued, "Amy. She'll be here."

        "Wait, seriously? I wasn't aware she still worked for Martin." Max's entire face lit up.

        "Oh she's not. She quit sometime after you. Martin was throwing fits and she had enough." Kyle said.

        "Figured. Martin is a character for sure." Max smiled.

        "Remember that one time we ditched the recording session and I thought for sure Martin was going to kill either one of us or himself." Dan brought up a distant memory and chuckled to himself.

        "Oh God, I was terrified when we made our way back at three in the morning." Max shuddered at the thought of the enraged Martin waiting at their hotel door.

        *        *        *

        "Come on." Dan tugged at her hand and she looked at him with confusion.

        "Where?" She whispered as they slowly made their way out of the room. Dan shrugged and tightened his grip on her hand. Their pace quickened as they sped through the hallways and down the stairs and finally out of the door, into the beaming sunshine and warmth of the outside.

        "Martin is literally going to kill me." Max stared at Dan with utter horror.

        "Oh please. He's just as much my boss as he is yours. That's what friendship is about, if you get in trouble, I get in trouble." He grinned at her and elbowed her playfully. Max looked back the building behind them with a little apprehension. She could already imagine an angry Martin charging through the doors like a bull.

        "But if you'd like to prolong your livelihood, then I suggest we go, now." He pulled her behind him again and she didn't protest. A small part of her was excited and she almost felt guilty. Almost.

        "Now, I don't think you've had a proper tour of London, now have you?" He asked her and she shook her head. 

        "Figured. Let's go." He smiled at her and hailed a cab. Within seconds a car pulled up and Dan opened the door for her. She exaled and gave him an uncertain look, but nevertheless, crawled into the car before him. He settled iin beside her and grinned.

        "Be prepared to be amazed." He said to her.

        "What put you into such a good mood?" She asked slowly. 

        "I don't really know, honestly. I guess it's you." Dan's smile vanished and he furrowed his brows.

        "I hope that's not creepy. That's probably creepy." He stumbled embarrassingly. Max recognized this as the Dan she knew and chuckled.

        "No, no it's not. I enjoy spending time with you." 

        "Good." Dan put his hand on hers and gave the driver directions to a location she never heard of. 

*        *        *

        A few hours later, the doorbell rang and Dan went to open it. It was the pizza delivery and after paying him, he hauled in the seven boxes.

        "Not too much?" Max asked with an incredulous look on her face.

        "uh... there's no such thing as too much pizza." Kyle grinned at her as he started clear the table. 

        In another thirty minutes, several more people began filing in and soon the small living arrangement was filled with soft music and the mingling of bodies and voices.

        "Max!" A booming voice filled the room and Max turned around as Will swallowed her into a hug.

        "Awh, it's so nice to see you." Max mumbled into his shirt as he held her tightly.

        "Same to you. It's just like old times!" He said with a huge smile and finally let her go. Right behind him, Woody snuck up and gave her a hug as well.

        "I knew you were gonna come back. Can't help but miss us." He winked at her and she chuckled. How she missed all of them, truthfully.

        "It's amazing to be back, for sure! It's been way too long." She said. 

        "Oh my god, Maxine!" A high-pitched, girlish voice yelped from across the room and Max swiveled around to meet Amy. The two girls hugged each other tightly and began rattling away. They settled into a sofa with pizza and beer in their hands and started their catching up.

        Dan couldn't help smiling as he thought about the deja vu moment. It seemed like he was given a chance to relive the moment when he first met Max. He knew he needed to take it and not waste it.