"I have never met a more self-obsessed manipulative individual in my life." Zoe sank down on the bench next to Max, grabbing his cigarette as she did so. Her normally immaculate hair had a faint bed head vibe to it and Max had to suppress a smile as he realised she was wearing his cologne. Zoe took a long drag before glancing over at him. "What are you grinning at?"

"I'm just admiring your new perfume." He laughed as her eyes widened in realisation.

"Shit! No one will recognise it will they? I'd completely forgotten, I left all mine at home." She ran a hand through her hair and closed her eyes, as with a jolt Max noticed she was on the verge of tears.

"Hey, come on, no one will notice," he said, resting a comforting hand on the small of her back, "I quite like it anyway." He smiled gently at her, watching as she composed herself. Eventually, she gave a weak smile in return, taking a deep breath.

"It's not that. I'm fine, it's just-" she trailed off, unwilling to burden him.

"Connie?" Max knew the pair had been having trouble getting along, but recently it seemed to have been affecting Zoe more that usual. She nodded, biting her lip.

"I feel like I'm letting people down. Nick and Charlie and everyone had so much faith that I'd sorted myself out but it's all gone to shit again." Her voice broke and she looked so vulnerable that he couldn't help but pull her into a hug, desperately trying to ignore the mention of Nick. Max wasn't sure quite what had happened between the two, and although he knew Nick had moved to America, he was still incredibly on edge about Zoe's feelings towards her ex.

They stayed that way, curled up on the bench, until Zoe gently extracted herself, wiping her eyes and smiling ruefully. "Sorry. I've got mascara on your shirt." She wiped at the damp patch on his top, avoiding his gaze until he softly tilted her chin up towards him.

"You're not letting anyone down," he whispered, his free hand stroking her cheek. He lent down and kissed her, tasting the gloriously addictive combination of lipstick and nicotine and Zoeness that was fast becoming his favourite flavour.

"Max," she mumbled against his lips, "we shouldn't be-" she broke off as he kissed her again, more forcefully this time in an attempt to shut her up. He grinned into her mouth as she bit his lip and snaked her hands into his hair. He pulled away briefly, gazing at her slightly flushed cheeks and eyes bright with lust. "And if this side of you is going become more common then you really do need to warn Charlie, he might find himself being ravished unexpectedly." he finished, leaping off the bench as she swiped playfully at him.

"Max!" She laughed and stood up, smoothing down her skirt. "I'd better be getting back, Connie's probably waiting to tell me more about my failings." As she began to walk off, she caught sight of Tess at the entrance of the ED. Quickly, she turned round, yanking Max behind a wall.

"What the-"

"Tess! What if she's seen us?" Zoe hissed, frantically glancing in Tess' direction. She couldn't risk showing any signs of weakness with Connie on the warpath, and Max was without doubt the biggest suggestion that she was returning to her more flawed roots.

"What if she has?" Max seemed remarkably ambivalent about the whole situation, his initial shock over being violently dragged by his collar having worn off. "Tess isn't a gossip, she wouldn't let on." He looked on amused as Zoe chewed her lip.

"We have got to be more careful. She could have been anyone! She could have been-" for the second time in ten minutes, Zoe was cut off as Max kissed her, this time pushing her against the wall. Zoe half-heartedly attempted to shove him off, but quickly surrendered as his hands found their way to her hips. She could feel herself losing herself in the moment until she was abruptly brought back to earth by Tess calling her name.

"Shit!" She wiggled out from Max's grasp. "I've got to go, and we,"she placed a quick kiss on his cheek "have got to be more careful."

Hope y'all enjoyed the first chapter! Please R&R it'd be lovely. Also, did we all see the kiss? Oh. My. God.