𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 [elmax story]

Chapter 7: Before winter's break

  The winter break was close, meaning that Christmas were included too. Before that, it was date 18 December. The school was getting the vacations in 20 December, two days later. Max had only two days to spend with her friends, before going back to Hawkins, at her family.
  "I suggest to go to the club tonight." - Nate spoke as the three friends were outside, at school's garden.
  "Yeah, why not?!" - Max smirked.
  "Great idea. I'm going to tell my cousin, too. I bet she'll invite some of her friends, too. It's not a problem to have some new company, right?!" - Jayden asked.
  "No no, totally fine. Let's have fun for the last time." - the boy winked to the girls.
  "You speak like we're never going to see each other again." - Max chuckled.
  "But seriously, I'm gonna miss you this break."
  "Aw!" - Jayden mocked and the friends laughed.

Then the three of them stood up and went to their dorms, getting prepared to spend the night before Christmas and the winter vacations.

***

Max, Nate and Jayden were already out. Kaitlyn arrived with Isabella and her two boy friends.
  "'Sup, guys!"
  "Hey!" - the three friends greeted back.
  "Let me introduce you to Darrell and George, Isabella's boyfriend." - Kaitlyn pointed at a tall black boy with curly short hairs and a tall blonde boy with a small beard around his chin. Both of them waved with a warm smile.
  "So, let's go inside?!" - Darrell proposed.
  "Yeah, come on." - Kaitlyn leaded the way.

All the guys headed to the counter, ordering drinks. The bartender was there, as always, with that bitchy resting face.
"Hi!" - Max started.
"Hi." - Jane greeted calmly, without lifting her head, preparing the redhead's drink.
"That Wonder Woman's pic was pretty hot, though."
"Huh?" - Jane raised her eyebrows.
"I'm talking about your story on Instagram."
"Oh, yeah, so?!" - the bartender raised her eyebrow, confused.
"I said that was hot, dummy. Do you hear me?"
"The music is loud, so no." - she handed her the drink.
"Thanks."
Jane nodded and walked a bit away, cleaning some glasses.
Nate, George, Isabella and Kaitlyn started dancing while Jayden was taking photos. Darrell was laughing together with Max as Nate was still doing his weird moves.
"Your friend is so funny." - the black boy stated.
"Yeah, I know. Especially when he drinks." - the redhead chuckled.
"This place is so cool, actually. I really like it."
"I like it, too. There is liveness here."
"True. So, you're in college?!"
"Yeah, the freshman year. You?"
"Sophomore year."
"Good. For what are you studying?" - Max asked again.
"I study for marketing at East California University. In Greenville."
"Oh, in North California?! That's too far, you took the vacations earlier?"
"Yeah, I got permission to come here earlier. I couldn't wait to see my family." - Darrell answered.
"That's cool."
"What about you?"
"Well, I study for business management at Columbia University."
"That's great!" - he smiled sweetly. Then, the black boy saw someone from far, waved at him and turned to Max. - "I'm gonna greet my friend. Be right back."
"Okay."
Darrell walked at his friend, passing the crowd while Max was looking at her friends, jumping and dancing like crazy. The redhead turned to the bartender who was sat on her usual chair, staying in her phone.
"Jane!" - Max called the bartender by her name and the brunette frowned and lifted her head.
Jane walked to the counter, still wrinkling her thin light brown eyebrows in confusion.
"How do you know my name?"
"The tag on your shirt, dummy." - Max chuckled.
"Stop calling me that." - Jane rolled her eyes. - "What do you want?"
"Another shot." - the redhead shoved her the empty glass.
"Sure." - the bartender said with a small voice and grabbed the Gin's bottle, filling the glass. She hand it back to Max, who smiled at her in a childish way. - "Why are you making that face?"
"No reason. Do you have cigarettes?"
"You can ask your friends?!"
"They ended the pack, probably... so, will you give me one?"
"Fine." - Jane pulled out her blue pack and haded it to Max.
The redhead took one cigarette and put it between her lips, lighting it.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"Gosh, I need a fucking tiramisu now." - Max groaned.
"Seriously?"
"I swear if tiramisu would be real, I'd literally marry it."
"Wow..."
"So, you didn't tell me, for what do you study?"
"Why do you need that?"
"Oh c'mon! Don't be such a bore, I'm not planning on coming and burning down your school or something. We're having a normal talk."
"...Art design. Happy?"
"That's so cool! You're an artist."
"Yeah..."
"I guess I'm annoying you, huh?!" - Max said a bit awkwardly.
"I guess you need someone to talk. But I'm not the right person." - Jane said and left to do her job.
Max cleared her throat. She couldn't understand what was wrong with this girl. The redhead just finished her drink and looked back at her friends while smoking the cigarette.