The Christmas party was in full swing by the time Zoe arrived, having been held up by a resus case and then waiting for Ash to leave so she could change her office into a makeshift dressing room. She spotted Rita and Ash sitting in the corner of the pub, with a seat next to him saved for her. Tess and Charlie were sitting across from them, there were a group of nurses at the bar and Connie and Dylan had declined their invites, the former much more politely than the latter.
She got the usual round of drinks in before making her way over to the table and sitting down, greeting the rest of the group.
"I love your dress" Rita smiled, taking the drink with thanks from her and turning back to the conversation.
Zoe smiled, her eyes scanning the room for a certain individual. She spotted him by the bar, with Cal and surrounded by a group of girls. He was touching one of them, his hand resting on her lower back as they chatted, her hand coming to rest on his bicep – almost possessively. She could feel something bubbling in her stomach, anger or maybe jealously, she wasn't sure but she didn't like it. She sipped her drink slowly, watching them with a renewed interest. He really could do better, she thought to herself, looking the girl up and down slowly. Her dress was too short, her make up overdone and her hair bleached within an inch of it's life.
His eyes met hers from the other side of the bar and she raised an eyebrow at him. He knew exactly what that look meant – his choice in women wasn't impressing her. He smirked and brushed her off, coming to stand at the middle of the bar and ordering her a drink, pushing it slightly towards her as an indication she should join him.
She made her way over slowly, removing herself from the table, realising that Ash's arm had came to rest around her shoulder. She stopped beside him and lifted the drink "thanks" she murmured quietly, her upper arm resting against him.
"So…" He began awkwardly, looking between her and the girl who he had been previously flirting with.
She followed his eye line to the other girl "if you want to make me jealous Max, you'll have to do much better" she laughed, nudging him with her elbow.
He looked at her quickly "I'm not… I wasn't" he stuttered, wringing his hands together. "Zoe… I…" He looked up above them and smiled slightly "mistletoe" he whispered, looking back at her.
She looked up and then at him "Max" she whispered "I can't, I can't do this" she downed her drink and looked at him "we've talked about this"
"yeah" he nodded signalling to the bar man to bring him another drink "how is Dylan?" He looked at her over the rim of his glass, swallowing it quickly and taking a step back "I'm just gonna go" he nodded to the door and turned away, leaving her alone at the bar.
It was then she noticed the small gift box in front of her and smiled slightly, less subtle than the flowers. She pulled at the ribbons and tore at the paper, opening the box and smiling at the locket inside. It was one she was going to buy herself, the last time they'd gone out together but she'd left her purse in the car and decided it would wait for another day. She turned around hoping to catch him before he left, and walked quickly towards the door. "Max?" She shouted, stepping out into the cold air and holding the box in front of her "you remembered" she whispered as he walked back towards her slowly.
"Please don't do this Zoe, I can't take it, just leave it" he sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I need to move on Zoe, so you need to make up your mind" he muttered.
She looked up at him "Max, Dylan and I aren't together" she shook her head "we're friends that's all." She pulled him closer and smiled "I…" She took a deep breath "I love you too Max" she muttered, joining her lips with his.