𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 [elmax story]

Chapter 13: The drunk friends

  The next day, Friday, Max's favorite day. She was in math class with Nate and Jayden, taking notes. The redhead still couldn't stop thinking about Jane. The previous day went great for both of them, it was enjoyable. Max remembered when the bartender told her to visit her someday at the club, and tonight would be perfect.

As the bell rang, all the students got out, joining the cafeteria for lunch.
"What about going to the club tonight?" - Max suggested.
"Why not?!" - Nate shrugged.
"Yeah, okay, since it's Friday." - Jayden agreed.
"Well, I kinda have a friendship with the bartender, if you didn't know."
"Oh really?" - the boy smiled.
"Since when?" - Jay asked, confused.
"Since when I went to Hawkins for Christmas. Her dad lives there too and she went to meet him. It was a coincidence."
"That's cool." - the blond girl smiled. - "So she won't get annoyed or mad if you're gonna get drunk on her counter?!"
Max chuckled.
"I'll try not to drink too much."
"Yeah yeah." - Nate smirked and the girls laughed.

***

The three friends walked together to the night club. They entered the building and walked to the counter, passing the crowd. Max's eyes went immediately at the bartender who was sat on her usual chair, standing on her phone.
"Jane!" - the redhead called.
The brunette raised her head and smiled, standing up.
"Hi."
"Guys, this is Jane, my new friend. Jane, these are my best friends, Nate and Jay." - Max introduced them.
"'Sup."
"Nice to meet you." - Nate and Jayden smiled.
"What can I serve you today?"
"Two Gins and one Malibu." - Nate ordered.
Jane nodded and went back, preparing the drinks.
"She looks nice." - Nate stated.
"Yeah, but don't try to flirt with her." - Max warned him.
"Nah, she's not my type. And she's tall as fuck." - he chuckled. - "No chance."
"Maybe she's been in a basketball course?!" - Jay shrugged her shoulders. - "Why don't you ask her?"
"Relax guys. I will, but not now."
Jane came back, handing the friends the drinks. Max made eye contact with her and smiled shyly. The brunette bartender left as there were other orders she had to serve.
During this time, Nate started flirting with other random girls while Max and Jayden were enjoying the music, singing and drinking. The three of them ordered again drinks and Max started feeling a bit dizzy. Jay was telling her a funny story and Max couldn't stop laughing, tears running from her cheeks while trying to catch her breath. Jane served some drinks and walked to the two girls.
  "Hey again!" - Max grinned, after calming down.
  "Hi." - Jane smiled softly.
Jay's phone rang and the blond girl took it out.
  "Sorry, I should take this. It's my cousin. Be right back." - she said and left somewhere quiet.
Max turned to the bartender, smiling and looking at her hazel shining eyes, the club's colorful lights slamming in her pupils which looked cool.
  "Why are you looking at me like that?"
  "I don't know, but you have beautiful features."
  "Beautiful features?! You're so drunk." - she chuckled.
  "No, I'm not lying. I mean you're so... perfect."
Jane scoffed.
  "No, I'm not."
  "Yes, you are!"
  "No, I'm not. You don't really know me, I'm not perfect."
  "Why do you have to be so moody, huh? I was complimenting you and instead of saying "thanks", you say "it's not true"." - the redhead groaned with her drunk voice.
  "Well, thanks... but it's not true."
  "Ugh, fine, it's not true."
  "You should go, you're drunk and it's already late."
  "I'll get so bored if I leave."
  "You'll fall asleep quickly, believe me."
After saying that, Jayden came back and sat on her chair again.
  "Do you wanna leave?" - she asked her friend.
  "She's drunk, she needs to rest." - Jane intervened.
  "Stop acting like I'm five."
Jane and Jay laughed. Nate came back to his friends, drunk too.
  "Hey ladies!"
  "You drank too much bud'." - Jay stated.
  "Oh c'mon, just two glasses."
  "Four, you dumbass." - Max told him.
  "How am I gonna hold these two?" - Jay asked and sighed, desperate.
  "Can I help you? I'm closing the shift."
  "You'd be helping so much. Thanks."
Jane took her coat and while Jayden was taking Nate, his arm around her neck, the brunette took Max. Even if drunk, Max felt again that weird feeling when Jane caught her arm, gently.

They walked outside and made the way to the college. The brunette wasn't allowed to go in as she was a stranger, so she stopped.
  "I'm not allowed to go in."
  "Oh yeah, it's okay, thanks again." - Jayden said, grabbing Max from her elbow. - "If you want, you can hang with us some time. We'd love to have another person join our group and you seem friendly. What do you think?" - the girl proposed to Jane.
  "Um... I don't know about that." - Jane replied uncomfortably.
"Oh, come on! You won't regret it."
Jane gave Max an "are you okay with this?" kind of look, and Max nodded without hesitating.
  "Yeah, sure, why not..."
  "See ya then." - Jay greeted before walking off with Nate.
  "Bye Jane." - the redhead said with her eyes half closed.
  "Goodnight." - she gave her a small smile and left.
Max was still looking at her, even if she was fading away in the dark.
  "Max, you coming?" - Jay asked in confusion.
  "Huh? Yeah, yeah."
And the three of them entered the building.