Ch. 2
Maxine played with the butter knife as she and Ryan waited for the meal to be served later that night. She stood it on its tip, and twirled it over and over again, hating the awkwardness of the situation. Though they made plenty of small talk, it had been at least fifteen minutes since Maxine had commented on the water.
"So Call told me you have something to tell me." Ryan finally spoke up, breaking the silence. Maxine looked up at him and took in the sight she saw for future reference. Though always handsome in her opinion, Ryan looked exceptionally better when dressed up.
"Oh. Yeah, about that Ryan I don't know what she told you…" Maxine started as her heart began to race loudly against her chest, while sweat was beginning to lace her palms.
"She told me someone at CSI has a thing for me. I figure you must now, miss gossip Queen of the lab. It's Natalia isn't it?" Ryan finished before he flashed an infamous grin in her direction.
Maxine felt her stomach knot up and she stood quiet, unsure of what to say. However, Ryan perceived the silence as a yes and slammed his hand onto the table.
"I knew it! I knew it! I might just go and ask her out, since she's not with Delko anymore. After all, how can anyone resist the Wolfe charm? The ladies love me," he announced to no one in particular. He looked at Maxine whose head was in her hands, and he stopped his boastful parade.
"Max? Talk to me, what's wrong?" Ryan questioned concerned as he leaned across the table to move her hands from her face.
"Nothing." Maxine lied, her voice quivering. 'Do not cry. Don't you dare Valera,' she thought to herself.
"Don't lie to me Max. I've obviously said something that has set you off. Talk to me." Ryan pleaded as he moved his seat next to hers.
Maxine sighed, taking a roll of bread and spreading it with butter. "It's not Natalia," she replied.
"Not Natalia? Well, it can't be Calleigh – everyone knows she's never going to be over Speed." Ryan replied, reducing the list of possibilities.
Maxine shook her head and shoved the bread in her mouth. She chewed quietly as Ryan continued to go over the choices. She became increasingly more irritated as she listened to Ryan try to deduce between Horatio and Gina, one of the newer lab technicians. She pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling the onset of a migraine.
"That's it!" she all but yelled, causing Ryan to jump. "It's not Horatio, or Calleigh, or Natalia or even Gina the new technician, who by the way is chaotic to my lab. It's me. I like you Ryan. I've liked you for a long time. But I didn't want to tell you because I figured it would destroy our precious friendship. Are you happy now?"
Maxine felt her face grow hot and she stood up suddenly, unsure of what next to do. She chose to run out of the restaurant, leaving Ryan speechless as the waiter laid out their meal.