After his episode in the passageway, Max was only too happy to let Avonlea avoid him for a day or two. He wasn't sure he could face her yet anyways. He still watched her and listened to her during the day. He avoided her bathroom and was successful at staying away while she slept.

He had learned so much about her in that time. She woke up early and wrote for an hour or two while drinking coffee every morning. She went out for errands after that. When she returned with groceries or dry cleaning, she would make herself a light lunch. Usually a salad with chicken or shrimp. Then she would clean while talking with her mom. That was his favorite part of the day. The conversations were hard to follow. They changed topic frequently without notice, and he always felt like most of what they said was an inside joke. It was worth the confusion just to hear her laughing. Light twinkling giggles or loud belly cramping bursts that would dissolve in tears. Every sound of joy was infectious. He'd sit in the darkness smiling until his cheeks burned. The thoughts of those laughs gave him reasons to smile the rest of the day.

Today, however, was the day he would see her again and explain his reaction. He would ask her out, and she would say yes. They would spend a wonderful evening together, and he would have a second chance.

Max was waiting in the lobby pretending to work on the old reception desk. He knew she would be down soon to go run her errands. She was late today. He finally heard the elevator and turned to watch her descend.

Avonlea was wearing black heels, no hose on her legs, the tops of her knees were touched by a dark grey pencil skirt, and her white blouse was unbuttoned at the neck showcasing a silver necklace. Her hair was straightened and down to the bottom of her shoulder blades. Her make up looked fresh and clean. With her, she carried a bright red messenger bag.

She left the elevator and stopped when she finally saw Max. She flushed and sighed but walked towards him anyway. "Hey, Max."

"Avonlea. You look really nice."

"Oh, thanks. Look, Max, I really just need to get something off my chest. I'm so sorry for kissing you the other ni—"

"No," he interrupted, "I should be the one to apologize."

"What? Why?"

"I didn't handle it the way I should have…the way I wanted to. I was, honestly, shocked. I didn't think anyone like you would ever like someone like me."

"Really? But you're so great."

His eyes looked to the floor as blushed and smiled. As he brought his eyes back up his heart stopped at the sight of her smile.

"How about I make it up to you and take you out for a real date tonight?" he asked.

"Oh—I'm sorry. I can't tonight. I already have plans." She looked down at her watch and added," I'm actually already running late. Can I take a raincheck and we'll plan something soon?"

"Sure—yeah—of course," he muttered.

"Great. Thanks, Max. I'll see you later!"

Max watched her leave the building and went to his apartment. That was not how it was supposed to go. She was supposed to say yes. She never went out in the evenings. Did she really have plans or was she blowing him off? He walked into his room, put on his gloves, and walked through his closet into the secret hallway to the door leading into her kitchen.

Her apartment was quiet and smelled faintly of coffee and cinnamon rolls. He needed to calm down. His emotions were overstimulating his brain. He went to her bathroom. He found her jar of lotion, unscrewed the top, and inhaled the soft aroma. This is what her skin smells like. He opened her shampoo and took another deep breath. This is what her hair smells like. He took her toothbrush and ran in along his teeth and tongue. This is what her kisses will taste like.

Originally posted by jdm-negan-mcnaughty

He put all her belongings back and went to the living room. He looked at her movies and books. She had pictures of her family on her shelves. Smiling happy pictures around birthday cakes. Graduation photos with proud parents hugging her. He imagined his picture up there next to the others. Eventually, pictures of their family replacing the ones currently there.

Max walked over to her desk. It was the one place in the apartment that was cluttered and messy. She had stacks of notebooks and post-its everywhere. Some of them had ideas randomly scribbled down. Others had organized detailed plot outlines for various chapters. Her planner lay open on top of the mess. Her days were divided into color coded blocks of time. Most of her days looked the same at a glance. Today was different. She had meetings scheduled for most of the afternoon. Tonight, she had written "Dinner w/ Jason Mario's."

Who was Jason? Did she have a date? Is that why she blew him off earlier? Rain check? So many emotions flooded his mind. Hurt, jealousy, and finally, rage. His vision started going black. He quickly bit his arm, hard enough to leave deep marks but not to break the skin. Physical pain made his emotional pain easier to sort through. He knew what he had to do.

That evening he found himself across the street from Mario's watching Avonlea and Jason. They talked and laughed as they ate. Avonlea seemed perfectly comfortable in his presence. It was obvious that Jason was interested in her. He kept refilling her wine glass which she didn't touch. He wouldn't let her pay even though she reached for the bill. And as he helped her into her cab, he kissed her on the cheek. Jason turned the other direction and started walking. Max followed.

The next morning Max heard a knocking at his door. He opened it to see a red eyed Avonlea looking up tearfully at him. He stepped out in the hallway and shut the door behind him away from August's prying eyes.

"Avonlea, what's wrong?"

"I need to ask a favor."

"Sure, anything."

"Could you go grocery shopping with me?"

"Um….sure." He furrowed his brows in confusion.

"It's just," her eyes welled up with tears, "My agent was attacked last night at the train station and the police may think it has something to do with me." She scrubbed her eyes wiping away the unshed tears.

"Your agent?"

"Yeah….Jason. He helps me deal with publishers."

"And why do the police think you have anything do it with it?"

"Well, he about to go down some stairs and a man pushed him. He said, 'She's not yours'. He's married with a baby on the way, and we had just had dinner after some business meetings. So…," she shrugged her shoulders, "I've gotten one or two crazy letters from fans but nothing like this. I'm not even that popular. The police said there is nothing they can do right now, because they don't have any leads or any hard evidence that this could be about me."

"Did Jason get a look at the guy?"

"No, he was pushed from behind and it happened just out of the security camera's view. The police have nothing to go on. Anyways, I am just so freaked out about this, but I need to get food. I just don't know what to do. Would you mind? I really don't want to go by myself, and I would feel better if you went."

"Really?" he asked.

"Well, yeah. I mean your tall and I'm pretty sure that's not a dad bod you're hiding under all that," she said. He chuckled and blushed. "Besides," she continued, "you're a good guy. I'm typically really good at reading people, and I just feel safe with you. Please?"

"Of course. I'll always help you with anything."

"Thank you so much." She started tearing up again.

"Don't start that," he said and he place one hand on her shoulder and wiped a tear off her cheek, "What time did you need to go?"

"What time would work for you?"

"I can go now if you need to."

"Thanks, Max. I'll just go get my purse."

He watched her walked down the hallways and enter her apartment. Only when she was out of sight did he hold up his hand and lick her tear from his thumb savoring the salty wetness and promised that he would never make her cry again.