Ok Max, where did Nathan go?
Slowly, Max strolled through the people. She saw a lot of Vortex Club Members, having fun as usual but still no sign of Nathan.
Maybe he went outside… Max thought after a few minutes of her inconclusive search. She pushed the door open and took a few steps, dodging some clearly drunken teenagers who tried to make their way past Ms Grant; who was guarding the door tonight. Max walked slowly over the campus enjoying the fresh air. In the distance she noticed a lonely figure sitting on the stairs in front of the main entrance to Blackwell. Their red jacket seeming familiar.
"Hi Nathan" Max said as she came closer. He looked up, a cigarette glowing in his mouth.
"What do you want, Caulfield?"
"Uhm, nothing. I just wanted to say hi. What are you doing here?"
"Chilling" Nathan said. He sounded pretty wary.
"Okay, don't mind me." Max sat down next to him, feeling nervous somehow and trying to ignore the surprised look on his face. Suddenly, Nathan laughed.
"You're always trying to talk, man! Even with me."
He studied her with a skeptical look on his face. Max felt a shiver down her spine. Was it the cold or just Nathan? He made her feel a bit uneasy. Sitting closer to him now, Max noticed how tired he looked. Almost sick.
"Are you okay?" She asked. "I saw you and Victoria arguing."
"That is none of your business, Caufield" He answered gazing off absent-mindedly around campus.
"No I-I just thought-"
"You just thought you were going to talk about my feelings with me?" Nathan interrupted her. "Why are you girls always talking about feelings?"
He took another pull of his cigarette. Max didn't know how to answer. It was quite odd, sitting there with Nathan Prescott, chatting almost normally. He was now staring at the sky, blowing smoke from his nostrils. It was almost hypnotic to watch.
That would be a great shot! Max thought. But instead of taking out her camera, she tried to talk again.
"You really look stressed. And Victoria seemed to be totally upset, too. Aren't you two friends?"
Nathan eyed her and smiled wryly. Max tried to remember when he actually smiled at her the last time. Maybe, never?
"The thing is'" he started "Victoria doesn't want to be friends anymore."
"Oh…What happened?" Max asked. What could possibly be wrong between Mr and Mrs Perfect?
Nathan shrugged his shoulders, suddenly looking uncomfortable. He sighed.
"Seems like she wants to be more than that now."
"Oh okay…" Max said under her breath, wondering how else to continue. It felt really strange having intimate conversations with Nathan like this. And also, to know that Victoria actually had feelings for someone besides herself. Nathan and Max both fell quiet for a moment.
"And… you don't want… I mean don't you want her to be more than a friend?" Max suddenly spurted awkwardly. She couldn't take the silence anymore.
"Honestly, no. I never saw her that way. I don't know… I don't even know why I'm telling you about any of this." He looked very serious now, a totally different boy than the fucked-up, drug-addicted teen Max normally saw him as.
"She just won't stop." He suddenly continued
"She constantly wants to talk about it. It's like she doesn't want to accept that I'm not interested in her."
"Well, have you told her so?" Max asked, feeling absolutely nosy again. Well, being nosy almost became routine for her.
"Not like that, no…" Nathan admitted after hesitating for a few moments. Max studied him. He seemed to be in need of some really good advice.
Max, the relationship-expert! she thought sarcastically before turning to Nathan.
"So, you should tell Victoria then. Don't try to avoid her. She'll be sad, of course, but at least she knows how things stand. You're just giving her hope by not saying anything."
"Oh what the fuck. You girls are so complicated" Nathan complained and Max had to giggle a bit.
"Just do it, Nathan" she laughed. "It'll be easier afterwards, trust me."
"Have you tried to tell your girlfriend Warren that you're not interested then?" Nathan grinned, waiting to see her reaction. Max blushed, completely taken aback.
"No! I mean… we're just friends" She explained.
"Well, that's what I thought about me and Vic, too."
Nathan fiddled with his pack of cigarettes
"But anyways, I think I should tell her tomorrow. It really might be for the best." He sighed again, glancing at Max and offering her a cigarette.
"Do you want one, Caul- Max?" he asked while lighting his second cigarette between his lips.
"No, thanks" Max said hurriedly "I don't smoke."
"Ha-ha, Max you're so cute" Nathan laughed and blew out a great amount of smoke.
Max felt her heart beat quicken against her chest. Was he trying to flirt with her?
No, Caulfield. As if Nathan Prescott would try to hit on you she thought to herself. They both sat in silence for a long while.
"Well then. I'm gonna go inside now" Nathan said after the break, snubbing out his cigarette on the stone step.
"Alright" Max said and got up. "I'm going to look for my friends then."
Nathan got up, too. They both stood there awkwardly for a moment.
"So I…I'll see you around, Max" Nathan said slowly.
"Okay." Max turned around and waved. "Bye then."
Nathan gave her another smile before he started to stroll in the opposite direction.
Max paced in front of the gym, still waiting for her friends to arrive. Her head swirled from the conversation she just had had with Nathan. It was bizarre, talking with him as they were something like friends. Imagining him telling Victoria he's not interested and possibly breaking her heart the next day.
"Hey, Mad Max"
Deep in thought, Max was startled by Warren's voice.
He came closer, smiling and waving at her. Max pushed her most recent conversation with Nathan aside and smiled too.
"Finally" she said. "I thought you'd never come."
"Oh come on Max, I would never leave you alone" Warren laughed.
He was looking pretty good tonight, maybe because he wasn't wearing a science shirt for a change. They waited outside for a bit longer, chatting happily about games and movies, until Dana and Kate arrived. Going back inside the gym felt like entering a stove. More people were dancing, the air was hot and stuffy, and the Vortex Club members already looked wasted sitting together in a corner making noise louder than the music.
Gosh, is this really the right place to be now? Max asked herself.
But before she could start feeling weird, Dana had already dragged her on to the dance floor. It was fun, Max had to admit, although she normally never went to clubs or parties. She didn't even feel too embarrassed "shaking her bony white ass" as Chloe would say. After a while they were all sweaty and out of breath, but in a great mood. They took a seat in the back of the gym and started to discuss vividly what they planned to do over their holidays.
It's so awesome to see Kate smiling again Max thought.
She had had some worries that Kate might not enjoy the party after all that happened to her. But as she watched her friend, Max didn't notice any sign of unhappiness. They were enjoying themselves, sharing some nachos Warren bought and making stupid jokes until Dana said goodbye to make a late night visit to Trevor's room.
"Hey, how about we leave too?" Warren then asked
"We could go and watch a movie on my on my big screen TV"
"Wait what, that crappy old thing?" Max joked.
"That would be pretty cool"' Kate said, just as Max's phone vibrated. New message from Nathan? Really?
Yo Max THX but next time u take a cig 2
A "thank you" from Nathan? WTF? Max smiled and watched Warren inhale the rest of the nachos. Just when they got up from their seats, Max received another message. This time from Chloe.
Max, come here pls, I'm bored. You can stay overnight, Mom will make a shitload of breakfast.
Max looked up from her phone. Warren and Kate were already waiting for her. She hadn't seen Chloe for a few days, but she had already agreed to spend the night with her Blackwell pals…
Visit Chloe or Stay with Warren and Kate
Visit Chloe - Part 3a
Stay with Warren and Kate - Part 3b