Chapter
2 ~ I'm in the mood for dancing
Zack finished drying himself off. He could hear Max whistling through the thin walls off the apartment. *What she so damn cheerful about?* Zack it was well past time to go through, he couldn't keep putting it off forever. Zack allowed himself a wry smile, what a picture this would make to Lydecker, him, CO of the X-5 series, hiding in a bathroom rather than facing a small fiery brunette. Zack sighed and headed towards the living room.
"Ah so you're finally out then, I thought you were planning on lounging in their for the rest of the evening"
Zack felt himself tense, he was never sure what to expect from Max but he always found playful Max a little unnerving
"That smells good"
"Yep, chicken, you have no idea how hard it was to get this baby"
Max sat down at the table and started eating
"What's up, you not hungry?"
"Yeah, you got any bread?"
"Max stood up and went to the counter
"TaDa,"
Max walked back brandishing half a French loaf
"Now, we're talking, Break me off a piece of that"
Max sat back down at the table and broke the bread in half, before long they were settling down to eat.
The next couple of weeks passed in a fairly similar pattern. Zack slept late while Max went to work, late afternoon she popped over to Logan's, after she came back, they went 'shopping' (at least their version of it) and then they went back and had dinner. Talked, she even stole a shot of Logan chess set and they decided to play chess. After a while it felt like he had lived there forever and the thought that sooner or later he was going was getting harder and harder to bear. It was on the fourth day that Max changed the routine. She had decided to kick it at the crash with Original Cindy and the others and for some reason, she wanted Zack to come with.
"Me and Original Cindy are meeting at the Crash tonight, you fancy coming?"
"Nah, I think I might stay here" Zack stared at his food
"Suit yourself" Max shrugged her shoulders and stared at Zack he had been in a funny mood all day, the last couple of days actually
"You ok?"
"Yeah I'm fine, I just don't fancy a wild night"
"Ok"
Max bounced out of the room to get changed.
Zack watched Max's retreating back, he knew his refusal had hurt her but he just didn't feel like celebrating. *Yeah-right Zackie Boy, you just don't want to admit to her that you're leaving. The last couple of weeks here had been amazing, being here, for the first time in his life he had somewhere he didn't want to leave. Well tough luck soldier, you're going to have to Zack gave himself a shake, he knew he had to go through with it, Tomorrow he decided, he would leave tomorrow and he'll tell Max tonight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max surveyed the clothes on her bed, for some reason, she just couldn't decide what to wear, it didn't usually bother her much, tonight felt different, there was something, something she just couldn't put her finer on.
Eventually she finally decided on a tight white top and a pair of tight fitting jeans. She had enjoyed the last few weeks, having Zack around had felt right somehow, it felt good seeing him in the morning, and having him as company for dinner, somehow having him here just felt, well ….right.
She knew it was only a matter of time before it ended, before he disappeared back into the shadows, then god knows when she would see him again. Max broke herself out of her reverie, she was just going to have to enjoy what she had right now, she would worry about tomorrow later.
Zack looked up as Max entered the room, he felt his breath catch as he saw her, mo matter what she wore she always managed to look breathtaking
"Well I gotta blaze, sure you don't want to come along?"
Zack looked up at Max, Oh what the hell, One last night wasn't going to do any harm.
"Ok, I suppose I'll come along for the ride"
Max smiled, "good, better make sure you're fit enough to keep up"
"Maxie, the day I have to TRY and keep up with you, is the day I relinquish my command"
"Ok then, better practise calling me boss, Boss"
Zack smiled "always with the manticore wit"
INT THE CRASH
Max surveyed the room as she walked into the Crash, it was busy for a Thursday night, Sketchy was practising his bike tricks and Original Cin was sitting in the corner with a cute young girl with blonde hair.
"So where's your friends" Zack asked
"Emm, They're a little busy!" Max pointed in the direction of Sketchy and Original Cindy, both now in full pursuit of their conquests, "looks like they're in the mood for a little romancing" Max joked
"You mean they're in the mood for hot sweaty sex"
Max turned to Zack, she was just about to launch into an attack when she saw the smile on his face a smile from Zack was so rare it stopped her in her track, he suited she decided, he should smile more often. He should have someone around who made him smile more often. Max quelled the funny feeling in her tummy that had occurred when she thought of some pretty girl making Zack smile. Must have been the beef she decided.
"Zack!!" Max started to smile as she saw the grin on his face "I never knew you had such a filthy tongue young man, you better watch I don't get the soap out"
Zack raised his eyebrow, "Oh, Maxie, you'd be surprised at what my tongue is capable of"
Max raised her eyebrows "Hmm, is that a threat soldier?"
"Nah, just a dirty remark" Zack smiled again at the surprise on Max's face
Max looked at the man in front of her; talk about an enigma, you just never knew what he would be like next.
"Ok, you want a pitcher?" Max asked
"Yeah ok" Zack replied, you get the drinks I'll rack the balls"
"The balls?"
"Yeah you know, snooker balls, for a game"
"Ha, No way, Snooker, shmooker mate, I came here to dance, I love this song"
Max started to move her hips in time with the music as she reached out and took Zack's hand.
"Nuh Uh Max, I don't dance, not now. Not never"
"Oh come on, you don't mean to tell me that their something our big CO can't do?"
"I didn't say I can't dance, I said I don't dance"
"Cant, don't, wont! Same thing in my book come on Zackie I'm in the mood for dancing, romancing, Ahhh
I've given my all tonight"
Zack smiled as he watched the girl sway from side to side while singing off key, a face of an angel she may have, the voice of an angel is another thing altogether
"Ok, ok, I'll dance, on the condition that you DON'T sing, DON'T call me Zackie and, well emm… you show me what to do" Zack put his head down but Max could just make out the slight colour on his cheeks.
Max smiled and pulled him onto the dance floor as they reached the centre they moved a little closer together and Max leaned forward slightly and placed her hands on Zack's hips.
As the beat of the music carried around them Max guided him through his first steps, as they carried on Zack started to move himself and by the end of the song Max had to laugh as she saw Zack jig along with the best of them.
As the next couple of songs continued Max taught Zack how to dance to Funk, garage, dance and even reggae towards the end of Sunshine though she just had to laugh as Zack tried to copy the moves she was showing him.
"Hey you, you never mentioned that laughing at me was part of the deal" Zack said indignantly
Max laughed again, she felt like she was on a high, she couldn't remember the last time she had enjoyed herself so much.
"Trust me honey, if you could see what I'm seeing you'd be laughing too" Max replied
"Oh is that right then, let see if I can actually give you something to laugh about"
Before Max could react Zack had grabbed her arms and started tickling her
"Zack, no, stop please"
As Zack stopped tickling her Max felt the tempo of the music change around her, as a slow sweet love song started to drift through the club
"Emm, Maybe we should sit down" Max suggested
"Maybe we shouldn't" Zack replied
~Insert verse one of the reason~
Max felt Zack draw her closer, as she felt Zack's arm slip round her waist Max felt her body relax before she could help herself, she felt her head drop on his shoulder, as they swayed slowly to the music. Max could hear Zack strong heartbeat thumping away, as she lost herself in the heat of his embrace she kept trying to tell herself that this was wrong, but to her, right now nothing felt more right.
~Insert verse 2 of the reason ~
Zack felt Max relax against him, as their bodies moved slowly together against the music, Zack tightened his arm around her waist and drew his other hand up to play with the soft strand of her hair.
"Max" he whispered
Max raised her face to his as she heard him whispering her name, she could feel his hot breath on her face and she knew what question he was asking her, she knew because she had been silently whispering it to him herself.
As if of their own volition their lips started to move towards each other as their lips met in a whisper of a kiss.
~Insert chorus~
As the music reached a crescendo around them their kiss deepened, they wrapped their arms tightly around each other. As everyone else continued on around them the two lovers carried on, lost to the entire world in their embrace.
