Set after Anwar and Sketch break up. The gang go partying to cheer him up.
The boom of the bass vibrated as Maxxie and his friends entered the club. He was with Chris, Jal, Tony, Anwar, Michelle, Sid and Cassie. He could barely hear himself think above the throb of the music and the cheers of fellow enthusiastic clubbers.
"I need a drink, mate." Anwar shouted in his ear before dragging him towards the bar. The whole Sketch thing had left Maxxie feeling a little anxious and paranoid. It had also effected Anwar. He felt betrayed and frustrated at how easily he was used and
how easily she had caused a rift to appear in his and Maxxies friendship. However though, now Anwar had come to his senses the two were as tight as ever, putting all of that behind them. Maxxie was ready for a new start and eager to forget about Sketch.
At the bar, Anwar had to yell to communicate with the bartender. Maxxie let him order because, despite his Muslim faith, he knew an awful lot about alcohol. After downing a few shots, a grinning Michelle grabbed Maxxie and Anwar by the wrists and
pulled them onto the dance floor. The alcohol started to take effect and the three of them started jumping up and down to the beat. Soon they were joined by the others, and Maxxie felt like he could finally relax.
On the other side of the club, Sketch stared across the dance floor, watching the happy group of friends. She was frustrated and hurt, but she knew she had to get Maxxie to love her. Her mind was fixated on making him see, they were meant to be together.
Maxxie had distracted her from her small apartment, lack of friends and dependant mother. He had been there for her when no one else had, even if he didn't know it. She felt pity for him, as he couldn't see how perfect she was for him. She was trying
to help him, above all other things. Why couldn't he see that?
A little ring had formed on the dance floor, surrounding a slightly drunk and high Maxxie, who was busting out his best moves. Sketch watched, a smile growing on her lips. She loved watching Maxxie dance. Since he had found out about her infatuation with
him, he had stopped dancing on the roof where she could watch him and snap the occasional picture. Sketch really missed it.
After a while, Maxxie, Anwar and Chris wandered back over to the bar to order some new drinks. Leaving the half empty glasses at the side of the bar, the trio wandered over to talk to Jal and Michelle.
"How you feelin' Max?" Michelle chirped when she saw them.
"Good thanks Chelle, it's nice to take my mind off, you know..."
"Yeah, what a fucking creep." They giggled and leant on each other for support as they'd both had far too much to drink. Michelle did not forgive and forget easily especially after Sketch poisoned her, to take her place in the production. Maxxie had a
close relationship with her and they'd helped each other through a lot.
Whilst they were chatting, Sketch seized the opportunity to sneak over to his drink and tip a white powder into it. She knew she needed a way to show him that loving her was the right thing to do.
Sooner or later, Maxxie and Chris returned for their drinks. The blonde downed his in one big gulp and got up again to hit the dance floor.
As the night carried on, the music seemed to be growing louder and giving Maxxie a splitting headache. The lights were blurry and he felt light headed and sort of sick. Tony seemed to notice the discomfort of his friend. He had spent a lot of time with
Maxxie more than anyone else after his accident, and could now easily notice his mood changes.
"Y'all right Max? You don't look so good."
"I think... I think I just need some air," came the hesitant reply. Maxxie pushed his way through the crowd and headed for the back door.
Once outside, he pressed a sweaty palm to the cold wall, trying to catch his breath. His ears were ringing and his head was painfully throbbing, causing him to clamp his eyes shut. He thought he heard a soft voice calling his name but all the sounds around
him had started blurring together. Cold hands slipped around his wrists and gently tugged him away from the safety of the wall and the thumping music. Maxxie tried to say something but he was too busy struggling to remain conscious. What happened?
Surely he hadn't had that much to drink?
Sketch pulled the dazed Maxxie into the woods behind the club. She didn't know what she wanted to do - she only knew she had to make him love her. Once they had stumbled into the trees, Maxxie felt his legs give up underneath him and he toppled to the
ground. Sketch slipped her hands under his armpits and dragged the unconscious blonde further into the woods and away from his friends. Once they had reached a little clearing in the bushes, Sketch leant down and shook Maxxie's shoulder. He didn't
react at all. She studied his beautiful face; he really was good looking. Slowly, she reached out and ran her fingers through his hair and down his soft neck. Her fingers then travelled down his solid and well defined torso and hovered at the hem
of his vest.
"Where's Maxxie?" Anwar yelled above the bass.
"He said he needed some air:" Tony replied. "We should probably make sure he's alright."
"Yeah he's been outside for a while." Sid added.
"What was wrong?" Michelle chipped in.
"He didn't look so good. Probably took some weird shit," explained Tony, "I'll go out there now."
"We'll come too. We should call it a night." Jal headed for the entrance; a reluctant Chris in tow.
Sketch slid her fingers back up Maxxie's chest, pulling the hem of his blue vest upwards, exposing his pale skin. She gently pulled it over his head and hesitated when he loudly exhaled. Luckily for her, his eyes remained closed. Leaning over him, she
pressed her dry lips into his and pushed herself upwards again to see if he responded. When he stayed unconscious, she pressed her mouth to his again and pulled at his lower lip. Sketch shifted her whole body weight on top of him and thrust her tongue
inside his open mouth.
"Maxxie! Maxxie!" Tony shouted when he saw there was no sign of Maxxie anywhere.
"Maybe he went home?" Sid asked.
"He would have said so." Anwar confirmed.
"Maybe he passed out somewhere, we need to find him. Call him." Said Michelle. His phone went straight to voice mail.
"Where the fuck are you Max." She muttered.
"Ok he can't have gone far, split up."
The group dispersed in different directions, looking for their friend.
In the darkness, Sketch's hands found the zip of Maxxies jeans. Her hands roamed up and down his abs and through his blonde hair. Her mouth explored his body as he slept.
"FUCK!"
Sketch jumped off Maxxie to see Anwar and Sid standing in the trees near her.
"Get the FUCK off him!" Anwar screamed as he pushed her onto her back. His shouts brought the others to the scene.
Michelle gasped and ran over to Maxxie, shaking him in an attempt to wake him. When he didn't respond, she turned on the frightened Sketch screaming, "what did you give him you psycho bitch!"
"I...I...," Sketch stammered, "I don't know...Someone was selling this stuff in small packets."
"How much." Jal demanded.
"Umm... I..." Suddenly she scrambled up and legged it away into the forest.
"Call an ambulance." Sid suggested. Anwar tried slapping Maxxie but nothing would wake him up. Even when Tony tipped a bottle of water over his head, the blonde did not regain consciousness. Tony shifted his weight underneath the stone cold boy and cradled
Maxxie's head in his lap, muttering soothing words in his ears. Soon, sirens could be heard so Sid and Cassie ran to alert them to their friend. The paramedics lifted Maxxie onto a stretcher and loaded him into the ambulance. The group tried to pile
into the vehicle after him, but there was only enough room for one person to go with him.
"I'm staying." Tony declared. Just when Anwar was about to protest, Jal lead him away.
"Come on, we can follow in Sid's car. Leave it Anwar, he's not going anywhere."
The ambulance tore down the highway, towards A&E. Tony cupped Maxxie's cold hand in his own, all the time telling him he'd be ok. When they finally got to the hospital, Maxxie was taken to have injections and medicine. Tony was instructed to stay
in the waiting room where he was shortly joined by the rest of the group. The small hours of the morning passed by as they sat in stunned silence, waiting for news from the doctor.
Michelle broke the silence:
"If I see that bitch again, I swear to god-"
"I'm up for a little murder." Anwar agreed.
"He should file a restraining order." -Jal, the voice of reason.
"They won't let us go in." Grumbled Tony,
"We need to see him."
Sid said, "immediate family only, remember?"
Cassie just stared off into space, softly smiling.
"Look up guys." Chris said as a doctor came over to talk to them.
"What's up, doc?"
"Your friend is conscious now, so you can see him. It's lucky you found him before-"
The doctor was cut off by the stampede to get to Maxxies room. The door flew open and the group piled in; creating quite a racket in the quiet hospital. Maxxie sat up in bed and greeted them with a feeble smile. He looked pale and fragile, as if he would
break at any moment. Despite his state, everyone crowded around him, embracing him in one massive group hug.
"Are you alright, Max?" Michelle questioned.
"Yeah, Chelle. I'll get there." Came the muffled reply. "Doctors say I can go home later."
"What about Sketch?" Tony butted in, earning him glares from the others. Maxxie looked down at his hands and sighed.
"I... I don't know. I only half remember what happened."
"We'll kill the little fucker." Chris added.
"She touched me, didn't she." Maxxie peered up through his messy blonde hair.
There was an awkward silence as they all waited for each other to speak.
"Yes." Tony broke the silence.