Chapter 11

Cooper watched Maxie as she worked on typing the final draft of the writing assignment she had been given in one of her classes earlier that week. After he had suggested she write it like a fashion advice column it had only taken her a few days to get the rough draft finished. Even though they had talked about work and the school assignment, they avoided two topics, the fact he would have to find a place to live soon and the fact they had almost kissed on Sunday night. Coopers thoughts were interrupted by Maxie coming over and plopping down on the bed.

"You finished it?" Cooper asked referring to the two pieces of paper in Maxie's hand.

"Yeah, the professor said that even though we edited it we should have someone else look at it just in case we missed anything, will you look at it for me?"

"Sure," Cooper said taking the papers from Maxie's hand.

After taking, a few minutes to read what Maxie wrote Cooper spoke up.

"This is really good Maxie,"

Maxie gave him a surprised look.

"Really?"

Cooper smiled slightly.

"Why do you act so surprised?"

"Well like I told you before I don't have the best writing skills,"

Cooper shook his head.

"You just don't give yourself enough credit,"

Maxie smiled.

"So what do you want to do?"

"We could go to Kelly's since we didn't get to go on Monday because we got called into work," Maxie suggested.

"That sounds good to me," Cooper said.

With that, they left for Kelly's.

At Kelly's Maxie and Cooper were sharing a brownie fudge cake.

"Hey!" Maxie exclaimed smacking Coopers arm playfully as he went for a bite of the brownie.

"Stingy!" Cooper said backing away from the brownie.

"Hey I like my chocolate---maybe too much,"

Cooper laughed.

"Yeah, you think?"

"Hey you're talking to a girl who on her birthday along with the help of her best friends ate a whole cookie cake,"

"Uh-huh and when did you do this?" Cooper asked stealing pieces of brownie when Maxie wasn't looking.

"We started it when we were in sixth grade and it lasted until our junior year of high school, we called it our birthday party method,"

"Do I even want to know the steps to that method?" Cooper asked.

"Nah, it was girly stuff mostly,"

Cooper nodded.

They fell silent because they knew the subject that was likely to come up next.

"You know I'm going to have to find a place to live soon," Cooper said seeing Maxie tense up, it was obvious she disliked the idea as much as he did.

"I know,"

"You know I'm not going to leave Port Charles, I can't after getting the job at Metro,"

Plus I don't want to leave you. Cooper thought to himself.

"I know… I think I might have an idea where you can stay," Maxie said the reluctance evident in her voice.

"Where?" Cooper asked.

"Well they have some rooms here for rent you could look at,"

"That could work, Maybe I'll check it out before we leave,"

"Okay," Maxie said taking the last bite of brownie.

Back at Maxie's house Cooper was packed and ready to leave. Before they had left Kelly's he had checked with the owner, Mike and decided to rent a room.

"I better go," Cooper said softly.

"Yeah you don't want Georgie or Mac to come barging into my bedroom like they seem to be doing so frequently now," Maxie said rolling her eyes hoping the sarcasm would hide the sadness in her voice.

"Like I told you before I'm not leaving Port Charles, I'm just going to be living at Kelly's. I wouldn't be able to leave you now---not after everything that's happened," Cooper said seeing through Maxie's sarcastic remarks.

Crap! Sometimes I hate the fact he can read me so well. Maxie thought to herself.

A silence fell over them but they kept inching closer to each other. Their lips were inches apart, there was no hesitation like a week earlier when they had almost kissed and unlike the two times before it was gentle and affectionate but that didn't make it any less pleasurable…that actually made it even better. After what seemed like forever, they pulled away.

"I should go," Cooper said squeezing Maxie's hand lightly.

"Yeah you should," Maxie said reluctantly letting go of his hand.

With that, Cooper quietly climbed out the window leaving Maxie to stare after him.