Maxie tried to alternate, opening the coffee shop door, while pushing the push chair through it, but it wasn't exactly working out. God to think that she had actually thought of herself as organised and co-ordinated at some point in her life! It'd been months now and she still couldn't multi-task when it came to a baby.
Eventually she managed to wedge herself between the push chair and the door, and push the door open, holding it awkwardly while she got the pushchair through the door.
Once she was inside, she glanced around for a free table, and grimanced when she spotted Spinelli, sitting at a table with Winifred, the two were talking while keeping their attention on their laptops. If Spinelli had noticed her not so stealthy entrance, he didn't show it, he wasn't looking her way and was completely focused on whatever hacking he was doing, then again, he'd stopped lookng her way or acting like she existed, months ago. She'd tried to fix things, and all her efforts had been met with rejection, for four months, the last time she tried to fix things, he had told her to stay out of his life and that was it, Maxie had eventually given up on him, they hadn't spoken in three months and four days now. It was probably for the best, she had been verging on stalking him and her thinking back on it, she'd developed a bad obsession when it came to Spinelli. That was over now, never again would she get obsessive over a guy.
She grabbed a free table, and gave the woman who had almost gotten it before her a smirk, before noticing the highchair Robin had insisted they aquire for the coffee shop placed aside by the wall, she pulled it over to her table and picking up a content looking Emma she placed her in it. Before she sat down with a deep sigh. Her moment of relaxation was cut short when a mug of coffee was placed in front of her, and Matt sat down across from her
"Ugh you" she groaned
"Well nice to see you too" the doctor remarked
She hadn't seen him enter or get the coffees, and he most definetely wasn't in there when she arrived "What do you want Matt?"
"You know I don't get this hostility, I thought we were actually, I dunno...friends"
"Right" she rubbed her temples. She and Matt hung out occassionally but only to babysit Emma, and Maxie hadn't exactly labelled them as friends "I'm just having a bad day" she muttered, glancing at Spinelli briefly, before turning her attention back to Matt. It didn't matter that all these months had gone by she still hated seeing Spinelli and Winifred together "I think I'm gonna go"
Matt glanced over to where Spinelli was sitting at a table in the corner across from Winifred, both equally engrossed on their laptops "He obviously has no idea how much he's given up" the doctor said, as he turned back to Maxie again
"Trust me he's lucky, he avoided this bullet" Maxie said indicating to herself
Matt arched a brow "I thought you were moving on"
"I am" she assured him "I'm moving on out of this place" he gave her a look when she stood "Fine" she muttered, as she reluctantly sat down again "Don't even give me that look ok, I've moved on from Spinelli, I mean I'm over him" she said trying to sound convincing but failing miserably. It was true, her heart yearned for Spinelli. No matter how many times he'd pushed her away, she just couldn't stop loving him....and resenting him. She furrowed her brow, at the last thought. She'd never mentioned she resented him to anyone. But honestly the moment he believed Winifred over her, and taken Winifred to LA when he went on the run, and to top it off the moment he had turned away from her in LA after her love declaration, the resentment had formed
"Really, and when was your last date?" Matt asked, bringing her out of her thoughts "I mean don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed our adventures in babysitting, and nights of playing Wii, and rockband, when you aren't working. But seriously you should get a life Maxie"
She shot him a glare "That's rich coming from you"
"Good point" he chuckled "But its not like I dont get to have the company of a gorgeous woman every night" he said, and Maxie looked at him unimpressed with his attempt at flattery "I know we've got this whole friendship thing going, but if you gave me a chance you'd go crazy for me" he smiled his charming smile, and Maxie rolled her eyes
She leant forward toward him to whisper "Sorry Matt, I don't go for arrogant asses anymore"
"Ouch" he placed a hand on his heart "That hurt"
She rolled her eyes as she sat back again "Oh please"
Just as Matt opened his mouth to reply, Emma started crying, both Matt and Maxie although both had babysat enough times to know babies did in fact cry for no reason, they jumped startled at the sudden noise. Maxie stood and picked Emma up, and tried to soothe the still crying baby. She knew that babies had different cries for different needs, at least she'd heard that from Robin and certain books she'd read while faking her pregnancy, but it didn't mean she knew the difference between the cries, to her they were just annoying loud and unneccessary noises.
Matt had also now stood up and was looking rather frantic "Is it her uh..." he indicated at the baby, and Maxie sniggered, it'd been months and Matt still had the inability to say the word 'diaper'
"No, I mean I just changed her like ten minutes ago" Maxie tilted her head to the side, as she held the baby up, away from her as though studying the wriggling noisy object "I think she's hungry" she decided after a moment, before handing Matt the baby "Here" once he had Emma in his arms, she knelt down next to the pushchair and rifled around in a bag, trying to block out Emma's crying, she glanced up at Matt who was awkwardly juggling Emma around. She couldn't believe they'd been babysitting Emma for months, and were both so badly organised, they couldn't even soothe a crying baby, or feed her, or even find her food. This settled the fact that she was in no way ready to have a baby now or ever! She just wasn't built for it
"Anytime now" Matt hinted, and she turned back to the bag and pulled out a jar of purity mushy baby food. Holding it up victoriously as she straightened up and tried to open the bottle, wondering angrily who adult proofed baby food jars! "Oh for gods sake"
Matts patience wore thin and he placed Emma back into her highchair, and reached for the small jar "Let me help"
"No" Maxie refused to let go, as he stepped closer to her and grabbed onto one side of the jar "I got it" she struggled with the lid, while still grasping the jar, trying to keep it out of his reach, the jar suddenly opened at an angle, spilling the contents over the front of Matt's white button up shirt. Both froze in silent shock, even Emma had stopped crying probably happily amused at the situation herself...if she was old enough to understand that her uncle Matt had just helped Maxie create a memory she'd never forget. Maxie gasped, and released her grip on the jar, letting matt now hold the now empty jar, her hand covered her mouth, as she eyed the still frozen doctor, standing in front of her, looking disgusted and shocked, orange colored purity baby food, smeared over the front of his shirt, a small smile came to her face, a smile which grew into a grin, she bent her head downwards trying to hide her amusement, but her shoulders shook in silent laughter giving her away. Matt gave her a deathly glare, and held up a finger in warning
"Don't-"
Before Matt could finish his sentence, she burst out laughing.
"Thanks alot" he muttered glaring at Maxie, and glanced in surprise as Emma too started giggling
The door to Kelly's opened, and a still laughing Maxie looked up as Robin and Patrick entered, Robin chuckled as soon as she noticed her brother in laws shirt, and immediately dug in her bag and pulled out some tissues and handed them to him, before walking around him to Emma
"Oh my god, what happened to you?" Patrick asked amused, as he watched Matt patting his shirt with the tissues
"Karma" Maxie responded happily, as Robin picked up Emma and brought her over, the two women stepped aside, from where Patrick was laughing at his brother
"Hey you seem happy" Robin commented, bouncing Emma slightly "Isn't auntie Maxie happy?" she asked, getting a smile from Emma in response "Yeah?"
Maxie's laughter subsided "Well, did you not just see his shirt?" she asked
"I just mean I haven't seen you laugh or really smile this much in...well since you and Spinelli were friends.." Robin spoke carefully. She knew Spinelli was a sore topic
"Yeah" Maxie shifted uncomfortably. She glanced over to where Spinelli and Winifred were sitting looking over their laptops talking to each other. She was very aware of him being there. Sure during all the commotion she'd briefly forgotten he was there, but she bet that Spinelli hadn't even bothered to glance over since she'd walked in. She was certain he wouldn't be interested in whether she dropped off the face of the planet. "Well a person's gotta move on" she commented as casually as she could, while returning her gaze back to Robin
Robins eyes widened hopefully "You and Matt-"
"No. eww" Maxie held up her hands and scrunched her face up in disgust, realising her cousin who had spent months trying in vain to force her and Matt together had mis-interpreted that comment as her meaning she was moving on with Matt "Dont even go there"
"Hm okay" Robin looked a little disappointed. She knew Maxie had been miserable for the last few months, she definitely needed to find someone, and her attempts at trying to put Maxie and Matt together had always failed on account of Maxie "But I'll hook you up with someone"
"Robin, I don't let people who have had babies set me up with people, For one, you're married, and a mother, which makes you old and you and Patrick are like this settled married couple, frankly you shouldn't even be looking at other men"
Robin rolled her eyes "I'm married, not blind"
"What are you two talking about?" Patrick asked, joining the three
"It's girl talk" Robin gave him a look, and he nodded, knowing that this was his queue to leave "Maybe you need to just have a fling" Robin suggested, once Patrick was a few feet away again "Get back in the game"
"I can't believe we're having this conversation" Maxie commented distastefully "And by fling, I'm guessing you mean sex, and I so cannot talk to you about sex"
Robin snorted "How do you think I ever got pregnant with this little one?"
Maxie's face contorted into one of disgust "I don't want to know that either!" she exclaimed, holding up her hands hoping to silence Robin "Once you get married and have a baby you forfeit the right to talk about sex with anyone"
"Its actually true" Matts voice agreed from behind Maxie "It's the silent rule everyone knows, but doesn't speak about"
Robin placed her free hand on her hip, as she looked at the two, in disbelief, both were nodding in agreement with each other, like this was actually some real code that existed. They'd both been single waaaaaay too long, and as much as Robin liked Spinelli, and had hoped that Maxie and him would get together, she knew he'd rejected Maxie alot of times, and not too pleasantly. She hated the fact that Maxie seemed to not notice any guy that came her way. Coming out of her thoughts Robin rolled her eyes at Matt and Maxie "You two need to either get together or stop spending so much time together"
"I prefer the first one" Matt said cheekily, with a grin at Maxie, who crossed her arms and shook her head at him "Yeah yeah, I'm gonna get the friendship speech again if I'm not careful" he told Robin, as he continued his futile attempts at rubbing the big orange stain on his shirt
"So I guess, I'll see you tomorrow" the young dark haired man said
"Ok" Maxie said, as she signed a piece of paper and handed it back to him "Good, the earlier you can the better" she said, as she turned her back on him and walked back to her desk
"I can uh, stay and help further..." he offered, but Maxie had already sat down and turned her attention back to her laptop, no longer paying attention to him
Lulu glanced from the good looking young man, to Maxie, and back again, giving him a small sympathetic smile "It's ok, we got it" she said, and he nodded in disappointment, before reluctanty leaving "Thanks Russ" she watched as he stepped onto the awaiting elevator and the doors shut behind him, before turning back to her oblivious friend "Oh my god you're so dim"
Maxie looked at her "What?"
"Russ the delivery guy" Lulu stated, and Maxie's brow furrowed "The cute, gorgeous, foreign one, always here.." she added, and Maxie continued to look at her blankly "has a HUGE crush on you"
Maxie looked at her for a moment, as though trying to piece that new piece of information together. She honestly hadn't paid him much attention, even though he'd been around alot "You're kidding right?"
"Wow" Lulu sat back in her seat and chuckled "Spinelli's blinded you to every other guy hasn't he?" she asked amused, but quickly became serious when Maxie shot her a glare "Right, no talking about that person"
"I'm not blinded to guys" Maxie replied irritably "I'm focused on my career, you know what a career is, right Lulu?"
"Well you need a life" Lulu retorted "You know what a life is, right Maxie?"
Maxie sniggered "So I need a guy in order to have a life?"
"Yes. If you want it to be a fun life" Lulu answered without hesitation. Wow when was it exactly that she and Maxie had swapped roles?! "Unless you're thinking of becoming a nun or a hermit. You're actually half way to both right now" she chuckled when Maxie rolled her eyes in exasperation "C'mon Russ is hot, and he's got the whole accent thing going and he's sweet and helpful, I mean do you not notice the way he carries stuff around for us?"
Maxie smirked "Yes I do, its in his job description" she pointed out mockingly
"He's always staring at you with those puppy dog brown eyes" Lulu added, ignoring Maxie's mockery
"I haven't noticed"
Lulu sighed "Of course you haven't. You're coming out with me tonight we'll go to the haunted star" she decided
"No thanks" Maxie grimanced "I hate being the third wheel" she said, and Lulu looked confused "You and Ethan are making me ill"
"There's nothing going on with me and Ethan, we're friends" Lulu said, and Maxie arched a brow in disbelief "You know to prove it I should hook you two up"
"Great, so I get your sloppy seconds again?" Maxie asked with a snort "NO WAY been there made that BIG mistake"
Lulu glanced sideways at Maxie who was focusing on a piece of paper in her hands, with a pained expression on her face. She knew that Maxie regretted what had happened between her and Johnny, it'd cost her Spinelli. It'd been different with Her and Maxie they were way passed the Johnny incident and were once again friends "Ethan wouldn't be sloppy seconds, he and I are not and never have been together"
"Well yeah, I mean there was that hold up when you thought he was your brother, and well I'd frankly have been disgusted with you if you had gotten with him then....but I can't say I'd have been entirely shocked since you had the whole Dillon thing..." Maxie waved a hand casually "But now you're in the clear, you've known you're not related for over four months now"
Lulu held up a finger "For the record, Dillon was my step brother, we were in no way related" she corrected
"Yeah well, there was still the word brother in there" Maxie pointed out, hiding a smile.
"Says the person who quite happily watched Cruel Intentions with me last night and had no problems if the guy ended up hooking up with his step sister" Lulu retorted
"Stop trying to change the subject" Maxie said "You kissed Ethan a few days ago"
"Uh yes" Lulu rolled a pen between her fingers, feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed "I was drunk and you put the idea in my head" she grimanced, not really wanting to remember how she'd somehow ended up on Ethan's doorstep, spouted a few drunken syllabills, something about him, a rainbow and doves, and being the one for her, before giving him a drunken kiss and passing out in his arms. Something he hadn't let her live down. She was also pretty sure she'd shown the taxi driver her very limited singing ability on the way to Ethan's hotel room.
"Exactly" Maxie sniggered, while pointing a pen at Lulu "Not to mention the other night when we went out, you couldn't stop gushing on about him, and actually went as far as reciting a poem to me, that you'd made up just for him" the shorter blonde reminded with a chuckle
Lulu covered her face with her hands "That was the same drunken night and the poem was put together in my highly drunk state" she stated. She couldn't believe while Maxie had got her drunken mind to think it was a good idea to turn up at 2am, drunk as anything to Ethan's motel room.
"A Drunk mans words are a sober mans thoughts" the shorter blonde pointed out with a smirk "And besides I'd not let you hook me up with him, he's not my type, I no longer go for any guys you've dated, kissed, or have ever liked you" she turned back to Lulu "or are related to you" she added as an afterthought, referring to the big mistake that was her destructive relationship with Lucky. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. So counting the ones still alive and in Port Charles that was Milo, Ethan, Johnny, and Spinelli "It kinda narrows down the field actually"
The elevator doors opened and the two turned as a male voice spoke out "Hello ladies" Ethan greeted. Maxie had to admit he was good looking in a cheeky, flirty, trouble causer kinda way, but so not her type "What are we talking about?"
"You actually" Maxie replied casually, as she swung herself back around in her seat
"Really?" the normal cheeky grin appeared on his face, when Lulu blushed
"Not in the way you're thinking" Lulu added hastily, glaring at him
"How do you know what I'm thinking?" he asked flirtateously, as he approached her desk
Seeing this was the beginning of Ethan and Lulu's flirting, Maxie rolled her eyes, and stood, grabbing her small handbag, as she moved towards the elevators, and pressed the call button
Lulu turned, noticing that her friend was leaving "Where are you going?"
"Well, I don't need to be subjected to this disgusting display of flirtation day after day after day...I'm going to get coffee" she informed Lulu, and continued before she could object to the flirtation comment "I'm sure you can cover for me, for once" she added snarkily as the doors closed
Maxie had just exited Kelly's with two cups of coffee when she had a near collision with someone, she gasped as a hand grasped her shoulder stopping her, and looked up in surprise into the face of Johnny Zacchara.
"Hi Maxie" he greeted, with a dark look on his face
She had to admit her former friend, and big mistake that was Johnny had recently begun to scare her. He'd gone off the deep end, and any chance of maintaining a friendship had flown out of her mind months ago. She knew he was back full time in the mob, and had gotten himself into alot of trouble. She wasn't sure what kind of trouble, but she'd seen him from distance occassionally with some shady looking characters
"Johnny...hi" she smiled nervously "Well I should go"
His hand on her upper arm tightened when she tried to move away "So no time to talk to an old friend?"
"I'm kinda in a rush..." she said nervously, but when he didn't release her arm, she put down the cups of coffee on a nearby table and turned back to him "Sure why not.."
Johnny pulled her a little way away from the coffee shops entrance "I never see you around anymore" he commented, still not releasing her upper arm, his eyes narrowed "You're not avoiding me are you?"
She forced a small smile, and shook her head erratically "O-of course not"
"You know I think about you, but sometimes I get the feeling that you're purposely staying away" he took a step closer, making her feel increasingly uncomforable and nervous, if that was even possible "I really think that'd be a waste of our friendship, especially since we don't have to worry about Lulu or Spinelli finding out about us-"
"Is there a problem here?" a familiar male voice interrupted
"No problem" Johnny replied darkly, as he let go of Maxie's arm and stepped away from her. Maxie turned to see Jason standing directly behind her, and sighed inwardly in relief "Just talking to my good friend Maxie" he smirked as Jason stepped forward and stood next to Maxie "I'll be seeing you around" he said, looking at Maxie again "We can catch up on old times"
As soon as Johnny turned away, Jason grabbed Maxie's wrist, and pulled her with him, through Kelly's and into his office, before releasing her and shutting the door behind them. Maxie had hardly had a chance to even think about what was happening, until she was released in Jason's office. She glanced to the side spotting Spinelli sitting with his laptop infront of himself, Spinelli looked up in surprise, and their eyes met briefly, before she turned and placed her hands on her hips, and glared at Jason "What's your problem Jason?"
"What are you doing with Johnny?" Jason questioned, ignoring her question, his voice full of annoyance
Maxie rolled her eyes "I wasn't WITH Johnny" she informed him irritably "I was leaving, and he was obviously arriving, and grabbed me. He wouldn't let me leave, I know you're a guy so you're naturally unobservant, but maybe you still managed to notice his hand grabbing my arm" she said rubbing her arm for emphasis, and Jason nodded "I've stayed away from him for months"
"What did he want from you?" he questioned firmly
"Nothing" she replied quickly, before sighing when Jason simply stared at her in disbelief. Although she was doing her best not to look at Spinelli she was very aware of him there, and felt incredibly uncomfortable, that she had to talk about Johnny while he was there "He wanted to 'catch up on old times' and was being paranoid that I was avoiding him" she sniggered "Which actually I am so I guess its not really paranoia"
Jason moved to sit down on the edge of his desk "He hasn't been in contact with you at all otherwise?"
Maxie shrugged nonchallantly "Well he's tried to phone me but I haven't answered"
"The mob prince has been attempting to contact you, is this frequent?" Spinelli suddenly asked
She glanced in Spinelli's direction "Kind of" turning back to Jason she shrugged "Look I've got my friendship with Lulu on track after the whole Johnny fiasco, and I have no desire to hang out with him. I sort of thought that me not answering my phone would give him that hint"
"Have you mentioned these calls to the police commissioner?" Spinelli asked, once again before Jason could speak
"No, I didn't see reason to" she frowned, not really understanding what the big deal was. Sure Johnny scared the crap out of her, but she didn't get why she'd been dragged forcefully by Jason into his office and was now being grilled "I mean, I've been on the same side where I had my phone calls ignored, and it took me a while to give up on that, so putting myself in his place, I'd kind of have hated it if I was arrested before realising that my calls were becoming a little stalker like" she was referring to Spinelli, reminding him of all her attempts months ago to contact him. But she kept her gaze on Jason "Look Johnny's got dark ever since him and Lulu ended, maybe even a bit before they did, and the company he keeps aren't really my crowd either. But its not like he's been actively seeking me out"
"The company he keeps?" Jason asked, as he indicated to an empty seat, which she reluctantly took
"Just sometimes when I'm going somewhere he doesn't see me, but I see him from a distance with shady looking really badly dressed people"
Jason looked highly annoyed "And you didn't think about telling me about this?"
She frowned irritably in response "Why would I have reason to think to tell you?"
Jason sighed, it was true, Maxie wasn't in the loop, there was no way she'd know to be careful of Johnny Zacchara "We suspect that Johnny is involved in criminal acts, and there's alot of deaths that we haven't yet completely proved, yet we believe trace back to him" he informed her, he knew that sharing information wasn't something that he did often, but obviously Maxie needed to know at least a few details, so that she would be careful around Johnny. But by the look Maxie was giving, it was obvious she was thinking that he himself had been involved in criminal acts and deaths and had no reason to judge "Deaths of people who are relatives of mob members but in no way involved in the actual mob" he explained, and Maxie started to look alot more serious at this new information "It's like he's attempting to start a mob war" Jason frowned, deciding enough information had been shared "He's very dangerous, and if you're on his radar its not a good thing"
Maxie was feeling nervous, but didn't want to show it "Well relax, I'm not really on his radar" she said, as she tapped her fingers on the arms of her chair "And I really can't help you anymore than I have"
She caught the look Jason and Spinelli shared, and didn't know what to make of it.
"You have not experienced the feeling over the months that you were perhaps being followed?" Spinelli spoke up once again after a moment of silence
Maxie was silent for a moment, and her eyes darted nervously. Spinelli straightened in his seat when he noticed her reaction, the darting eyes was a tell tale sign Spinelli knew happened when she was lying "No" she answered with a hint of uncertainty. She didn't know if it was a good idea to lie about her suspicions of being followed. The last time she'd done the stalker cry, it didn't turn out well. Honestly she was getting annoyed with the inquisition "Look, can I go now?" she asked irritably.
Maxie liked to think of herself as persuasive, and argumentative, and often won at both of those qualities, but after arguing with Jason for about fifteen minutes over not needing a lift back to her apartment, she's lost out on account of the fact that, he wouldn't let her go home by herself, and said she could either stay at his penthouse or accept a lift home. Of course the lift ended up being given by Spinelli, as Jason had business to take care of. God if there could be a more awkward moment in history, she'd be shocked! The five minute car journey, felt like hours, and was filled with complete silence, both refusing to talk, or even look at each other. Maxie's hand was poised over her seat belt clip, ready to undo the seat belt, and bolt as soon as the car stopped. Which eventually it did
"Well thank you for the very unneccessary ride home" she said as sarcastically as she unclipped her seat belt, and turned to let herself out
"Maxie" Spinelli spoke, before she could open the door, and she turned back around to face him, he looked dead serious "Beware of the mob prince, his actions are not to be taken lightly" he warned, as he pulled out a small square card and handed it to her "If suspicious activicties occur, do not hesitate to inform myself and StoneCold"
"Right, so you can catch Johnny doing something wrong" Maxie stated
"For the capture of the mob prince but as well as if you simply sense you are in danger of any kind" he corrected, and Maxie looked at his serious expression for a moment, and not bothering to reply, she turned away and pushed open the car door and climbed out, shutting it behind herself
She didn't look back while she walked, but was well aware that Spinelli was waiting and watching her, making sure she was safely inside the block of flats that led to her apartment, before he started the car and drove off
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