Even though Zoe knew about Max's scars he still didn't feel comfortable to show them around her so he asked if they could spend the day at his due to Robyn and lofty being at work.

"Zoe" he said nervously

"Yeah sweetie?" she replied

"Can we please go to mine?"

"Why?" she wondered

He looked down at his arms which were bare due to him having to wear the shirt he wore yesterday. Zoe immediately guessed why he was so nervous which was unlike him

"You want to go home and wear a jacket?" she asked sympathetically

He nodded his head almost like he was embarrassed, she walked up to him and tilted his head up and kissed his cheek.

"Okay, but let me get dressed first and I'll drive you to your house and we can stay there all day if you want" she told him

"Thank you" he said while leaning down to kiss her cheek

Zoe didn't want him to feel uncomfortable around her but if he did she didn't blame him – he wasn't used to people knowing about his secret.

It took Zoe 30 minutes to get dressed and put on her make – up while Max had his clothes on waiting for her downstairs while helping himself to some breakfast.

"Who said you could have some of my food?" Zoe told him jokingly

"Hungry" he said while his mouth was full of food

Zoe just stood there leaning against the door frame shaking her head at him in a joking way. She was stood there for another 5 minutes until he finished she didn't want any food.

"You ready Max?" she asked him

"Yeah"

They both walked together to her car. Zoe wasn't bothered bout going to Max's student house because Robyn and Lofty were at work so there would be no questions asked to either of them. They would assume that they were together and Zoe would like to be with Max if she got to know him better but he didn't want to rush into things and she wanted him to trust her before they even though about having a relationship. She had an idea that Max kind of liked her because he checks her out on some occasions – she knew he did.

While they were in the car there wasn't much talking but it was a comfortable silence which didn't really bother either of them because it wasn't awkward that they weren't talking they were just in their own little worlds.

Each time Zoe diverted her eyes from looking straight ahead or when she was at traffic lights she turned her head towards Max and she could tell that having bare arms was bothering him. She knew this because every time she looked at him he crossed his arms or shielded them from her view which he didn't have to do – she was a doctor she's treated even talked to people who were like Max – she knew he had mental health issues but didn't want to bring it up because he might take it as an attack and her thinking he was 'crazy.'

"You don't have to hide them you know" she said while looking into his eyes

"I know, it's not you, it's just that I don't want you giving me sympathetic glances" he told her honestly

"I don't want to be like that but I just want to help you in any way that I can"

While they were having that conversation they had been sat around the corner from his house because Zoe didn't want to park anywhere near in front of the house just in case Robyn and Lofty saw it. They both got out of Zoe's car and to show Max she was there for him she gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. Just as she was about to pull away from the hug he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

To any one walking by they would look like they were in a relationship but to them it was a friendly hug but they both felt something more. Max thought she was hugging him in a friendly caring way and Zoe thought he was hugging her back because she was the only person who knew about his secret so he could finally tell and express how he was feeling – instead of keeping it all inside.

They both pulled away from the hug and smiled at each other. Zoe leaned inside her car to pick up her bag she left in the back seat and Max closed the door and leaned on the car while he was waiting for her. As they were both walking to Max's house, Zoe pressed lock on her car keys so she didn't have to put it inside the car.

They were both walking inside his house. Zoe thought that she has come out from her house on her only day off because Max wanted a jacket.

She secretly smiled to herself.