YOU 1 [Charli D'Amelio]

Chapter 51.

I rush out the back door to find Max. She has knocked over the patio table and is pacing back and forth on the deck with one hand balled into a fist at her side, and the other tugs at her thick hair.

I'm not sure how, or if  I can help the situation at all but I know I would rather be out here with Max than in the dining room after her outburst. I feel responsible for this whole mess because I agreed to come in the first place when Max didn't want to, now I see why.

Max spots me and sends me an annoyed glare and she turns away from me when I approach her.

"Max," I keep my voice gentle and low.

"Don't, Charli." She warns. She's always warning me and I'm never listening. "I know what you're going to say. You're going to say that I need to go back in there and apologize to them and there is no way in hell that is happening so don't waste your breath! Why don't you just go back in there and enjoy your dinner and leave me the hell alone," she spits.

"I don't want to go back in there." Is all I can manage to say.

"Why not? You fit in perfectly with their prudish and boring fucking personalities."

Ouch. Why am I here again? Oh yea that's right, to be Max's punching bag.

"You know what?" I raise my voice. "Fine! I will leave, I don't know why I can't just stop trying with you!" I shout. I hope they can't hear me inside.

"I don't either! You just can't take a hint I guess." As the words leave her mouth, I feel the lump growing in my throat.

"The hint is well taken." I try to swallow the sting from her words but it's nearly impossible. I look up at Max and her cold eyes meet mine.

"That's it? That's your defense?" She laughs and shakes her hair.

"You don't deserve anymore of my time. You don't deserve for me to even speak to you, or those nice people in there to spend their time setting up this dinner to have you ruin it! That's what you do is ruin things, everything! And I'm done being one of those things." I yell.

Unwelcomed tears soak my face as Max steps towards me. I back away, my feet disagree and I fumble over them. Max's hand reaches out to steady me but I grab ahold of the railing instead. I don't want or need her help.

"You're right." She sounds exhausted.

What?

"I know I am." I turn away from her again.

She snakes her hand around my wrist and pulls me to her chest. I lean into her without hesitation, I want to touch her so badly, but I know better. I can hear the heavy thump of my heart, rapid beneath my chest. I wonder if she can hear it, it seems impossible that she doesn't. Can she feel the pounding of my pulse under her grip? Her eyes are full of anger and I know mine mirror hers.

I have no warning before she crashes her lips down on mine, the force of hrmouth is almost painful. Her action is so full of desperation and hunger that I am lost. Lost in Her. Lost in the salty taste of my tears on both of our lips, lost in her fingers threaded through my hair. Her hands move from my hair to my waist and she lifts me onto the railing of the deck. My legs part for her and she moves between them, never losing contact with my mouth. We are all heat and gasps, tangled in each other. My teeth graze over her bottom lip causing her to groan and pull me closer until my chest is flush with her.

The back door creaks open, breaking the spell. I'm horrified as Liam's soft eyes meet mine. His cheeks are flushed, and his eyes are wide in surprise. I push Max away from me and jump down from the rail, adjusting my dress as my feet hit the deck.

"Liam, I.." I begin. He holds up his hand to silence me and steps towards us. Max's breathing is so loud that I swear it is echoing between the house and the trees. His cheeks are flamed, his eyes wild.

"I don't understand? I thought you guys hated each other, and here you are.. you have a boyfriend Charli, I didn't think you were like that." he says. His words are harsh but his tone is soft.

"I'm not.. I don't know what this is" I motion between me and Max. Max stays silent, for which I am glad. I'm ashamed by my behavior and that shame is only multiplied by Liam's clear disappointment.

"Chase knows, well about before. I was going to tell you, I just don't want you to think differently of me." I defend myself, even though I know I'm wrong. So wrong.

"I don't know what to think.." Liam says and walks back towards the door. Like something out of a movie, a clash of thunder rolls through the air.

"It looks like it may storm." Max says, her eyes scanning the darkening sky. Despite her flushed appearance, her voice is calm.

"A storm? Liam just caught us.. kissing." I say and feel the fire slowly burning out between us.

"He will be okay," My tells me.

I look up at her , expecting to see a smug expression, but it's not there. She puts her hand on my back and rubs gently. The fire ignites again. I am still reeling from the kiss, now she is comforting me? I can't decide which is more shocking.

"Do you want to back inside or do you want me to take you home?" She asks. It's astounding how abruptly her mood can change from angry to lustful to calm.

"I would like to go back inside and finish dinner, what do you want to do?"

"I suppose we can go back in, the food is pretty good" she smiles and despite the awkward situation at hand, I find myself laughing.

"That's my favorite sound," Max surprises me by saying.

"You're in a much better mood." I meet her eyes and she smiles again.

"I don't understand it either," she says, rubbing her neck like she always does.

So she is just as confused as I am? I wish my feelings weren't so strong for her, then I could deal with her much better. When she says things like this it makes me care for him that much more. I only wish she could feel the same, but I have been warned by Addison and Max herself that it would never happen. I remember when she told me I wasn't her type, it hurt a little then but I didn't consider her my type either so I didn't mind. Little did I know, she would have me hoisted on the ledge of a deck kissing me less than a month later.

Thunder rolls again and Max takes my hand. "Let's go inside before it rains."

I nod and she opens the door and leads me inside. She doesn't remove her hand from mine as we walk back into the dining room. Liam's eyes dart down to our hands but he says nothing. As much as I don't want Liam to see it, I love the way Max's hand feels over mine. I love it too much to pull away. Liam focuses back on his plate as we take our seats. Max lets go of my hand too soon and looks up at her father and Karen.

"I am sorry for yelling at you that way," she mutters to her father.

The surprise on everyone's face is evident and Max looks down at the table.

"I hope I didn't ruin the dinner that you put so much effort into" She continues. I can't help myself, I reach over and put my hand over Max's , giving it a light squeeze.

"It's okay, we understand. Let's not let the night be ruined, we can still enjoy the dinner." Karen smiles and Max looks at her. She gives her a small smile, which I know takes a lot of effort from her. Ken doesn't say anything but he nods his head at Max as if to say "It's okay". Forgiveness is clearly a strong trait among this family in everyone except Max.