YOU 2 [Charli D'Amelio]

Chapter 165.

"That guy.. the one on stage.. is your religion professor?" Max asks me, despite the fact that Addison just told her.

"Yes." I finish off my drink and begin looking around the table for another.

"He's in a band? How fucking lame." Max leans back on her chair and rolls her eyes, tapping her fingers against the wooden table.

"They are pretty good, really." Sam says, clearly testing Max's patience tonight.

"How weird is that that you came here and he's here playing? What a coincidence!' Liam says to me.

Yeah, coincidence.

"He asked me to come, to bring some friends." I explain, still not looking at Max.

This whole thing really isn't a big deal at all but with Max, everything is a big deal.

"Anybody want another?" Sam asks, holding up another pitcher of beer.

"Oh." Liam's nose scrunches up in that way that lets me know exactly what he is thinking.

"He shouldn't be inviting you anywhere, he is a professor." Max frowns, she is obviously annoyed by the fact that she was locked out of the apartment and perhaps that Zayn is here.

"It's not like that. He's a nice guy Max." I say quietly.

"You think everyone is nice Charli, you are naïve."

"He is a college professor, that would be incredibly unprofessional if there were anything more to this. It's just a show. That's it."

"Sure, Charli." Max barks.

"Anyway... let's enjoy the music." Zayn says, looking at Max.

My hand immediately rests on Max's thigh in an attempt to make some of the tension disappear, the air is thick with it and my head is beginning to feel fuzzy from the alcohol. Max glares at Zayn for a few seconds but doesn't say anything.

"We will be back on in ten minutes!" Professor Soto announces through the microphone.

"Probably needs to try to learn how to actually sing." Max says under her breath.

"How was the game?" I ask her and Liam.

The game must have not gone too bad since Liam is sitting across from me. It's still strange that Liam is here with us, I don't know why Max brought him but I am glad she did. I wish he could hang out with us more often.

"It was great, we won." Liam beams, then coughs.

"I hate cigarettes." He complains and I nod in agreement.

"I missed you." I lean into Max's shoulder, she seems to relax slightly.

"Did you now?" She asks timidly, a smile slowly creeping in.

"Yes, I did." I say and feel her hand lay over mine on her leg.

"How much have you had to drink?" She asks.

"Not this again." I roll my eyes playfully and take a large gulp from my glass.

"I'm only asking." Her lips are dangerously close to my ear, close enough to make me shiver.

"I can't tell what type of mood you are in." I say so that only she can hear me.

"Neither can I. I'm pissed that you were invited here by your professor, and I'm pissed that he is here." He says, I know he is referring to Zayn. "But I did miss you, and now I am here."

"Okay." I say, I am glad she seems to not want to start a fight tonight. Yet.

"We should play a game of pool." Tristan suggests, nodding over to the row of pool tables a few feet away.