Blame

Chapter 24 (Him)

        When they arrived at the pub, it was crowded, like expected and Dan was a little bit unsettled. He kept looking at Max and memories kept replaying in his head. He couldn't help smiling as he remembered Max barely able to keep herself upright. But it's been a while since they've been at such a social event with alcohol involved. Dan couldn't stop glancing at her in her dress and how her hair smoothly fell over her shoulders and back.

        "Hey, mate come on!" Will nudged him and he slowly followed the boys into the pub. Max was trailing behind, but then a car pulled up and Amy opened the door with a huge grin. They hugged and soon went inside as well.

        They went up to the bar and ordered drinks. Dan liked this pub because it was crowded, but it was in an obscure part of town where he knew people wouldn't give him or his band a hard time. 

        "Ey boys." Dan felt a heavy hand on his back and turned around to meet Joey.

        "Oh hey. Nice of you to show up." Kyle said, taking a chug of his beer.

        "Well you know, I had a nasty week. Preparing this new album of yours is hell." Joey said, placing an order on his drink.

        "Sorry that we're such an inconvenience." Woody rolled his eyes and the boys chuckled.

        Just then Max and Amy came up to them with drinks in their hands and smiles on their faces.

        "Amy, long time no see." Joey said, nodding at her and she replied, "Same to you, sir." She was already slightly tipsy and was holding onto Max's arm quite tightly. 

        "Max, it's nice to see you again." Joey said with a sly smile and Dan noticed his eyes lingering on her body, especially in that dress. She wasn't a fool, and she noticed. Max returned the greeting and soon people began pushing them aside, getting to the dance floor.

        Dan wanted to talk to her, he didn't even know about what, but he needed to speak to her. Dan wanted to hear her voice and her say everything was okay. But Amy was on her arm, not giving her a chance for solitude. The boys kept talking to him as well, so he couldn't go up to her. He was getting jittery and impatient.

        As soon as he thought Max was alone, he began walking up to her but out of nowhere Joey cut him off and placed a hand on Max's shoulder. Dan stopped in his tracks and watched as Max turned around with furrowed brows and then smiled at him. Max said something to Amy and then walked off with Joey.

        "They're probably talking about her new job." Kyle spoke up beside Dan and he jumped, getting a little spooked by his sudden appearance.

        "Yeah...., I...I don't care." Dan lied and took a sip from his beer. A part of him was angry at the fact that he did care and another part felt silly because Max and Joey were both his friends and he shouldn't be getting angry at them, especially if there is no reason.

        "You're jealous, so you do care." Kyle said drinking the beer.

        "I don't even know anymore." Dan said with defeat.

        "You need to talk to her mate. That's your problem, miscommunication." Kyle said and then they hear someone holler their names from across the pub, "Kyle! Dan! Come." Will was waving at them and Dan offered a final glance in Max's direction and reluctantly followed Kyle towards their friends. 

        They joined their friends and the group seemed to have grown. Dan's anger festered and he drank some more. Usually when he was drunk, he was very happy and talked a lot. He was ashamed to admit it but he wanted to get hammered just so he could get her out of his mind, because Max was all he thought about.

        "Slow down mate!" Woody tapped him on the shoulder as Dan chugged another beer and he waved him away.

        They were seated around the table, chatting, the music pounding in their ears. They ordered chips and some food, and the atmosphere became warm and sociable. Out of nowhere a group of girls came up to the table and Kyle, of course, accomodated them. There were three of them and they joined them, one sat right beside Dan, her arm rubbing his.

        "Hi. My name's Zoe." She grinned at him and he was too buzzed to really look at her face features. Dan did notice how green her eyes were and that smile, it was beautiful.

        "Ello, I'm Dan." He smiled back, drinking some more.

        Zoe laughed and almost fell out of her chair, since there was so little room for everyone. Out of instinct, Dan grabbed her, even in his drunk state, and wrapped his arm around her waist.

        "Sorry, I'm just a little tipsy." She giggled and moved closer to him, almost onto his lap. Dan had a very painful memory run through his mind as he thought back to a drunk Max as she manuevered through the crowds, barely able to stand up and then how he had helped her back to the hotel.

        Dan looked at Zoe and thought of Max and it angered him, not being able to move on. So he leaned in and kissed this mystery girl. It was so incredibly unlike him, but he was drunk and he was desperate to forget Max, so he searched for oblivion in someone else's lips. Her hands were in his hair and he was still holdiing onto her waist and hips.

        "Let's get out of here." Zoe whispered as he pulled away and he happened to look up, and met face-to-face with Max. He couldn't read her face expression, it was empty, which was an even more terrifying concept. Zoe leaned in for another kiss, but the moment was dead. Dan couldn't look away from Max and he just didn't know what he was doing.

        "I... I, can't. Sorry." Dan shook his head and Zoe looked up to see who he was looking at.

        "Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know he was your boyfriend." Zoe stood up sheepishly, wobbling on her heels, and fixed her skirt. 

        "What? No, he's not my...boyfriend. You can have him." Max spat out that last sentence in disgust and all but ran out of the pub. Dan didn't know what overcame him, but he got up and ran after her.